Why We No Longer Carry Palm Leaf Plates

At Green Pond Packaging, we carefully evaluate every product we offer. When new safety information comes to light, we act quickly to protect our customers.

In May 2025, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert stating that certain palm leaf plates, bowls, and trays made from Areca catechu may leach natural alkaloids into food at levels that raise potential long-term health concerns. The FDA has now determined that these products are not authorized for food contact in the U.S. and added them to an import alert.

Because of this, we’ve discontinued palm leaf dinnerware across our store.

What did the FDA find?

• FDA testing detected four naturally occurring alkaloids—arecoline, arecaidine, guvacoline, and guvacine—migrating from palm leaf plates into food simulants.
• Migration levels increased after microwave heating and varied between manufacturers. Not all manufacturers were tested.
• Based on toxicology studies, FDA concluded routine use could pose a long-term risk to health.

For these reasons, FDA has made clear that palm leaf dinnerware cannot currently be sold as food-safe products in the U.S.

Our commitment to safer, sustainable packaging

We know many of our customers chose palm leaf plates for their natural look and compostability. We share that love of sustainable design. That’s why we’re actively stocking-up on alternatives:

✅ PFAS-Free Sugarcane Plates & Bowls – strong, heat-resistant, and certified compostable.
✅ Bamboo Dinnerware – responsibly sourced and available in a range of shapes and sizes. Renewable, durable, and naturally elegant.

FAQs

Can I use up the palm-leaf plates I already have?
FDA’s position is that Areca catechu leaf-sheath dinnerware is not authorized for food contact in the U.S. today.

Is this about added chemicals or coatings?
No. The FDA action focuses on naturally occurring alkaloids in the Areca plant itself that were found to migrate from the dinnerware into food.

Is this a temporary ban?
FDA has placed palm-leaf dinnerware on an import alert and considers it not authorized unless and until safety is demonstrated through the appropriate regulatory pathway. We’ll revisit our stance only if FDA guidance changes.

Closing

Our mission is to provide safe, compostable, and plant-based packaging that you can use with confidence. We will continue to monitor FDA guidance and keep you informed.

If you need help switching from palm leaf plates to another eco-friendly solution, our team is happy to provide custom recommendations or quotes.

Sources: FDA Constituent Update (May 8, 2025); FDA Letter to Retailers/Distributors/Importers (May 8, 2025); FDA Scientific Memorandum (Apr 24, 2025); Import Alert 23-15 (updated Jul 11, 2025); peer-reviewed research on alkaloid migration from Areca-leaf dinnerware.