For restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and food service businesses, packaging is not just about carrying the product — it is about protecting food safety, maintaining temperature, preventing contamination, and presenting your brand professionally to every customer.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know about food-grade paper bags — what makes a bag food-safe, the different types available, what to look for when buying wholesale, and how to choose the right bag for your specific food service operation.
What Makes a Paper Bag “Food-Grade”?
A food-grade paper bag must meet specific safety standards for direct food contact. This means:
- Paper: Made from food-safe kraft paper — free from harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and fluorescent brighteners
- Ink: Printed with water-based, food-safe inks — no solvent-based inks that could migrate into food
- Glue: Water-based adhesives — non-toxic and stable across temperature ranges
- Coatings: If grease-proof coating is used, it must be fluorine-free to avoid PFAS contamination
Types of Food-Grade Paper Bags
SOS Paper Bags
SOS (Self-Opening Satchel) bags are the flat-bottomed square bags used in grocery stores, delis, and bakeries worldwide. They stand upright when open, making them easy to fill. Available with optional tin-tie closures for resealable freshness, and clear OPP windows for product visibility.
Our SOS Paper Bags are available in brown and white kraft from 40–120GSM, with grease-proof lining, tin-tie, and window options.
Pinch Bottom Paper Bags
Pinch bottom bags are sealed at the bottom with a flat fold — no square base. They are the classic bakery bag used for bread, pastries, and baked goods. Available with grease-proof coating and clear windows. Extremely cost-effective for high-volume bakery operations.
Our Pinch Bottom Paper Bags include window options and are available in 40–80GSM food-grade white or brown kraft.
SOS paper bags are the industry standard for bakeries, delis, and grocery stores
Food Delivery Paper Bags
Food delivery bags are designed to carry complete meals securely — with handles, strong construction, and sometimes waterproof or tamper-evident features. Essential for restaurants, food delivery apps, and takeaway businesses.
Our Food Delivery Paper Bags support up to 10 KG and are available with twist, flat, die-cut, or no-handle options.
Fluorine-Free Grease-Proof Bags
For businesses serving greasy or oily foods — fried chicken, chips, pastries — grease-proof bags prevent oil seepage without using harmful PFAS (fluorine) chemicals. These are now required or strongly preferred in many markets due to tightening food safety regulations.
Our Fluorine-Free Grease-Proof Bags are available in 33–50GSM in white or yellow, with custom sizes for fast food and bakery applications.
What to Look For When Buying Food-Grade Bags Wholesale
- Certifications: Look for ISO 22000 (food safety management), FSC (sustainable paper), and BRC Grade A+ (food packaging safety)
- Ink safety: Confirm water-based inks are used — avoid suppliers who cannot confirm this
- Grease-proof coating: If required, confirm it is fluorine-free — essential for EU markets and increasingly required in North America
- Samples: Always test bags with your actual food products before ordering — heat, moisture, and oil can affect performance differently depending on your specific use case
Ready to Order Custom Paper Bags?
NextGen PaperBags manufactures directly from China and ships to the USA, Canada, and Europe. Get factory-direct pricing with full customization.