Is My Food Full of PFAS?

Is My Food Full of PFAS? Written by Bree Foster, PhD | Designed by Luiza Augusto How PFAS enter the food chain PFAS can enter the food chain through multiple pathways, including contaminated soil, water and packaging materials. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemicals used to make everyday items resistant to water, grease and stains. But they come with serious downsides—PFAS are toxic, difficult to break down and can easily spread throughout the environment. Unfortunately, the main way people are exposed to PFAS is through food and drink. This infographic explores how PFAS enter the food chain, which foods are most affected and the regulations (or lack thereof) meant to protect us. Food packaging Many food packaging materials still contain PFAS. For example, eating microwave popcorn daily has been linked to PFAS levels up to 63% higher than average.1 Contaminated soil and water Fish and livestock accumulate PFAS in their bodies over time, leading to higher concentrations of PFAS in animal products and seafood.3,4 Pesticides New research shows that fruits and vegetables are being contaminated with PFAS through pesticide use.2 Why are we worried about PFAS? They don’t break down. Their structure makes them resistant to degradation in bodies and the environment. They spread easily. PFAS migrate through water, air and soil, contaminating both close and distant ecosystems. They’re harmful— even in tiny doses. PFAS exposure is linked to cancer, reduced fertility, immune dysfunction and developmental issues in children. Due to their hydrophobic nature, PFAS accumulate in fatty foods like oils, butter and processed meats.5 What’s hiding in your shopping trolley? High consumption of pork, beef and hot dogs has been linked to higher PFAS levels in the blood.6 Fish and seafood are the most significant dietary source of PFAS.7 A diet rich in whole fruits, vegetables, grains and pasta is associated with lower PFAS levels, possibly because fiber helps remove PFAS from the body.6,8 Tea, especially unsweetened tea, is associated with higher PFAS levels—likely due to contaminated tea bags or packaging.6 Tea Despite contamination in fresh produce, cooking at home is still the better option. Studies show that foods from fast-food restaurants— especially hot dogs, burgers and fries—are linked to higher PFAS levels, likely due to grease-resistant packaging.1 It’s particularly bad in fish… In 2022, the EU set legal limits for PFAS in fish. Most fish can have up to 2 μg of PFAS per kilogram, and some species are allowed even more—up to 45 μg/kg.9 But here’s the problem: According to EFSA’s safety guidelines, eating just 154 g of fish containing 2μg/kg exceeds the recommended weekly PFAS intake—and that doesn’t even account for PFAS from other foods or water! Many people consume far more than this, raising serious concerns about long-term exposure. Better food safety starts with more PFAS testing PFAS is becoming increasingly pervasive and unavoidable in our daily lives. It’s in the dust we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. To safeguard public health, it is critical for governments to implement routine monitoring and regulations that protect consumers from the harmful effects of PFAS. Identifying which foods are most likely to contain high levels of PFAS is key to enhancing monitoring efforts, strengthening regulatory frameworks and ensuring better consumer protection. What protections are there? United States The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a non-enforceable lifetime health advisory of 70 ng/L for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), either individually or combined.11 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that manufacturers have voluntarily phased out the use of PFAS-based grease-proofing substances in food contact materials.12 Europe The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a tolerable weekly intake limit of 4.4 ng/kg body weight for four PFAS compounds.7 The EU’s REACH and POP regulations impose restrictions on the production, use and disposal of highly hazardous PFAS substances to protect health and the environment. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste regulation mandates a complete ban on PFAS in food packaging by 2026.10 The key challenge? No country currently has specific regulatory limits for PFAS in food.13 While food packaging restrictions are strengthening, broader global food safety regulations for PFAS are still lacking. Tea 1. Susmann HP, Schaider LA, Rodgers KM, Rudel RA. Dietary Habits Related to Food Packaging and Population Exposure to PFASs. Environ Health Perspect. 2019;127(10):107003. doi:10.1289/EHP4092 2. Donley N, Cox C, Bennett K, Temkin AM, Andrews DQ, Naidenko OV. Forever Pesticides: A Growing Source of PFAS Contamination in the Environment. Environ Health Perspect. 2024;132(7):075003. doi:10.1289/EHP13954 3. Cara B, Lies T, Thimo G, Robin L, Lieven B. Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in marine biota from the Belgian North Sea: Distribution and human health risk implications. Environ Pollut. 2022;311:119907. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119907 4. Vestergren R, Orata F, Berger U, Cousins IT. Bioaccumulation of perfluoroalkyl acids in dairy cows in a naturally contaminated environment. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2013;20(11):7959-7969. doi:10.1007/s11356-013-1722-x 5. Eze CG, Okeke ES, Nwankwo CE, et al. Emerging contaminants in food matrices: An overview of the occurrence, pathways, impacts and detection techniques of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Toxicol Rep. 2024;12:436-447. doi:10.1016/j. toxrep.2024.03.012 6. Hampson HE, Costello E, Walker DI, et al. Associations of dietary intake and longitudinal measures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in predominantly Hispanic young Adults: A multicohort study. Environ Int. 2024;185:108454. doi:10.1016/j. envint.2024.108454 7. EFSA CONTAM Panel, Schrenk D, Bignami M, et al. Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food. EFSA Journal. 2020;18(9):e06223. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6223 8. Dzierlenga MW, Keast DR, Longnecker MP. The concentration of several perfluoroalkyl acids in serum appears to be reduced by dietary fiber. Environ Int. 2021;146:106292. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.106292 9. Langberg HA, Breedveld GD, Kallenborn R, et al. Human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) via the consumption of fish leads to exceedance of safety thresholds. Environ Int. 2024;190:108844. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2024.108844 10. Sustainable packaging: Council signs off on new rules for less waste and more re-use in the EU. Consilium. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/ press-releases/2024/12/16/sustainable-packaging-council-signs-off-on-new-rules-forless- waste-and-more-re-use-in-the-eu/ 11. Cordner A, De La Rosa VY, Schaider LA, Rudel RA, Richter L, Brown P. Guideline levels for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water: the role of scientific uncertainty, risk assessment decisions, and social factors. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2019;29(2):157-171. doi:10.1038/s41370-018-0099-9 12. Program HF. FDA Announces PFAS Used in Grease-Proofing Agents for Food Packaging No Longer Being Sold in the U.S. FDA. Published online September 25, 2024. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-announces-pfasused- grease-proofing-agents-food-packaging-no-longer-being-sold-us 13. Death C, Bell C, Champness D, Milne C, Reichman S, Hagen T. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in livestock and game species: A review. Sci Total Environ. 2021;774:144795. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144795 References Sponsored by