Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) consist of a large group of man-made chemicals used for their water-, grease-, and stain-resistant properties in products like non-stick cookware, food packaging, water-repellent clothing, and firefighting foams. The active substances in pesticides can also be PFAS.
People can be exposed to PFAS through various sources, such as food, consumer products and the environment. These substances may be released into the environment from manufacturing facilities, landfill sites, or wastewater treatment plants.
Also known as "forever chemicals", PFAS are extremely persistent, resisting breakdown over extended periods once introduced into the environment. The fact that these compounds are likely to remain in the environment for a long time increases the likelihood of their presence in food and raises concerns about their lasting impact on human health and the environment.
One of the main ways in which PFAS contaminate food is by gradually accumulating in water, fish, shellfish plants and animals. Additionally, PFAS may migrate from food processing equipment and packaging. However, this contribution to human exposure Concentration or amount of a particular substance that is taken in by an individual, population or ecosystem in a specific frequency over a certain amount of time is small compared to the other sources.
Public authorities at an EU and Member State level are making efforts to further strengthen how PFAS are regulated in the EU and to reduce their presence in both the environment and the food chain. These measures aim to mitigate potential long-term health and environmental consequences associated with exposure to PFAS.
Latest
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA is reviewing the health-based reference values for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a substance that forms during the breakdown of PFAS. EFSA is working on this review in cooperation with ECHA, which is responsible for the classification of the chemical properties of TFA.
EFSA works closely with national authorities and other stakeholders to collect and analyse monitoring data on PFAS contamination in food. This activity follows a European Commission recommendation for Member States to monitor the presence of PFAS in food from 2022 to 2025 (EC recommendation 2022/1431, 2022).
Data are collected annually through a continuous call for information on chemical contaminants in food and feed. National food authorities, research institutions, academia, food business operators and other stakeholders are invited to submit data on the occurrence The fact or frequency of something (e.g. a disease or deficiency in a population) happening of contaminants.
In 2023, EFSA and several Member States created an “Initiative group on PFAS” aimed at sharing information and building collaborative approaches in the field of risk assessment A specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation of PFAS.
EFSA also commissioned a project on the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) to study the mechanisms of action of PFAS on the immune system.
Milestones
2023
EFSA and several Member States create an “Initiative group on PFAS” aimed at sharing information and building collaborative approaches in the field of risk assessment of PFAS.
2022
The European Commission recommends Member States to monitor the presence of PFAS in food from 2022 to 2025 (EC recommendation 2022/1431, 2022).
2020
EFSA sets a new safety threshold for PFAS in food, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). The group tolerable weekly intake The maximum intake of substances in food, such as nutrients or contaminants, that can be consumed weekly over a lifetime without risking adverse health effects for these four PFAS is established at 4.4 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per week. The assessment considered the effects of PFAS on the immune system's response to vaccination as the most critical health effect.
2019
EFSA publishes its ‘MixTox’ guidance that equips experts with methodologies and tools to assess combined exposure to multiple chemicals. This will support experts to set one single group tolerable weekly intake level for different types of PFAS.
2018
EFSA experts propose revising the tolerable intakes of two chemical contaminants.
2008
EFSA adopts a scientific opinion on PFOS, PFOA and their salts recommending further data collection on PFAS levels in food and in humans, particularly to monitor trends in human exposure.
EFSA's role
EFSA's work on PFAS is essential for protecting public health as it provides the scientific basis for regulatory measures that help to reduce exposure to these persistent chemicals through food.
EFSA assesses the risks to public health raised by the presence of PFAS in food. This involves reviewing scientific data on their toxicity The potential of a substance to cause harm to a living organism, exposure levels, and effects on human health. EFSA establishes tolerable intake The amount of a substance (e.g. nutrient or chemical) that is ingested by a person or animal via the diet levels for various PFAS compounds in food that help regulatory bodies set safety standards and limit human exposure to these substances.
EFSA also assesses applications from industry on plastic food contact materials containing PFAS. It produces scientific advice on the risks associated with the transfer of these substances to food to inform decisions the European Commission and Member States take about authorising food contact materials for the EU market.
EFSA also evaluates the safety of pesticide Substance used to kill or control pests, including disease-carrying organisms and undesirable insects, animals and plants active substances belonging to the PFAS class to ensure a high level of protection for consumers and the environment. This involves establishing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for these substances. EU Member States are required to conduct official controls to verify compliance with MRLs for food sold on the market. Subsequently, they submit their findings to EFSA, which conducts a dietary risk assessment for EU consumers based on the reported data.
EFSA’s scientific advice helps policy makers take informed decisions on managing risks to PFAS. This includes recommendations on monitoring PFAS levels in food and the environment and on strategies to reduce exposure.
EFSA regularly exchanges information and cooperates with EU Member States and EU agencies, including the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), ensuring a coordinated approach to assessing the risks to PFAS.
EU framework
The EU has implemented several regulations to tackle PFAS in food. These regulations are designed to minimize exposure to PFAS, protecting both public health and the environment throughout the EU.
- EC regulation on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food (2023/915), which includes Maximum levels (ML) for PFAS in foodstuffs.
- EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC): Sets quality standards for water bodies and imposes limits on PFAS in drinking water and surface waters to ensure water safety across EU countries.
- Food Contact Materials Regulation (EC 1935/2004): regulates materials that come into contact with food
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EC 850/2004): Controls the release of persistent organic pollutants into the environment, including certain types of PFAS.
- REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006): Requires companies to register and evaluate chemicals, with provisions to restrict substances like PFAS if they pose risks to health or the environment.
For a complete overview of regulatory actions related to PFAS in the EU, please check the European Commission web page.
Various EU Member States have set national limits for PFAS in water and soil.
In 2023, ECHA proposed a restriction on the manufacturing, placing on the market and use of PFAS with an aim to reduce emissions of PFAS into the environment.
FAQ
In EFSA’s latest assessment, EFSA experts considered the decreased response of the immune system to vaccination to be the most critical human health effect. The tolerable weekly intake set by EFSA in 2020 is also protective against other possible health effects, such as the increase of cholesterol in blood.
Fish and eggs are the foods that contribute most to the exposure to PFAS.
Toddlers and other children are the most exposed due to their higher intake of food per kilogram of body weight. Furthermore, for compounds that accumulate in the body over time and transfer to breast milk, high levels in mothers can result in a prolonged high exposure of the infant.
Food can become contaminated through contaminated soil and water used to grow the food, through the concentration of these substances in animals via feed and water, through food packaging containing PFAS, or processing equipment that contains PFAS.
People can be exposed to PFAS through food in a variety of ways:
- Drinking contaminated water.
- Eating food from areas where PFAS were used or produced.
- Eating fish from contaminated waters.
- Consuming food packaged or processed in materials containing PFAS.
EFSA 2020 scientific opinion Opinions include risk assessments on general scientific issues, evaluations of an application for the authorisation of a product, substance or claim, or an evaluation of a risk assessment highlighted that parts of the European population Community of humans, animals or plants from the same species exceed the tolerable intake ( TWI The tolerable weekly intake (TWI) is the maximum intake of substances in food, such as nutrients or contaminants, that can be consumed weekly over a lifetime without risking adverse health effects) for the sum of four PFAS (PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS and PFOS), and that this is a health concern.
Eating a varied and balanced diet is important, including seafood, which supports brain and immune system development in children and benefits heart health in adults.
PFAS can migrate from non-stick coatings in cookware and food packaging. TFE cookware and food packaging may contain PFAS, but their contribution to human exposure is small compared to other sources.