According to recent research on food sources, high levels of PFAS, or “forever chemical,” have been found in people who consume white rice, eggs, red meat and seafood, as well as coffee.
You can also learn more about the following topics: Study published in JulySince 2009, we have collected blood and milk samples from more than 1,500 mothers in New Hampshire, USA.
It was found that for "every" standard deviation of egg consumption per day, participants experienced a 4.4 % increase in PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) in their blood, as well as a 3.3 % and 10.3 % increase in PFOA (perfluorooctanoate) and PFDA (perfluorodecanoate) levels, respectively.
Similar increases in concentrations were seen in those who consumed large amounts of red meat, white rice, coffee and seafood.
The latest discovery comes amid growing concern about the presence of synthetic chemicals in food. Tobacco use has been associated with various health problems.Cancer, thyroid disease, liver problems and fertility issues are all included.
"Contaminated every corner of the world"
Eadaoin Carrthy, assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Dublin City University, says the latest findings on the presence of PFAS in food chains are “alarming” but “not entirely surprising”.
She explains that these chemicals end up in water, soil and air. This ultimately leads to their presence in food. Over the past decade, there has been growing concern about research and concerns about PFAS contaminants in water and other consumer products. Their presence in foods like eggs, white rice, meat, fish, coffee, red and processed meats and seafood is more widespread than previously thought.
Shubhi Singh, a researcher at CHEM Trust, acknowledges that PFAS have contaminated the entire planet. She explains that the chemicals can enter food chains in several ways, such as through PFAS pesticides, contaminated soil or water, and packaging containing PFAS.
According to the CHEM Trust, its own research has shown that PFAS are widely used as coatings on disposable tableware and food containers in Europe. Intentional PFAS treatments were confirmed in 32 of 42 laboratory samples.
Sharma says research shows a link between some PFAS and serious health problems, such as certain types of cancer, Alzheimer's disease and developmental problems in children.
Urgent action
The authors believe that the results of this study could be applied to the development of dietary interventions specifically during pregnancy to reduce exposure to PFAS for pregnant women as well as their unborn child.
Environmentalists, activists and food industry professionals are all calling for greater action from the authorities.
Sharma says the only way to stop PFAS contamination is to address its source. The European Union should implement a universal ban on PFAS as soon as possible and introduce a stricter REACH restriction to avoid future problems.
Pesticides Action Network (PAN), a UK-based group, is calling on authorities to act to ban the use of PFAS pesticides in food production. They claim that these chemicals are “absolutely necessary”. The group says there are currently 25 PFAS pesticides in the UK. Six of these are classified as “highly harmful”. The list includes lambda-cyhalothrin, an insecticide toxic to bees and humans. In 2022, they found 9,200kg of lambda-cyhalothrin applied to 1.69 million hectares in the UK, which is 11 times the size of Greater London.
Nick Mole, policy officer at PAN UK, says there are many unknowns about the effects of exposure to PFAS and other pesticides on the human body. He adds that the campaign group believes that the UK or the food industry is not responding to the issue with enough urgency. More research is needed into the health effects of PFAS chemicals and pesticides, he says. As our research has shown, there are 25 pesticides containing PFAS currently in use in the UK. Banning them immediately would help solve the problem.
Carthy says food manufacturers could also adopt alternatives to PFAS for packaging, processing and other materials. Implementing improved filtration and purity systems can [also] reduce PFAS in food and water production.
She believes that as awareness improves and our scientific capabilities increase, future research will reveal more details about the extent of PFAS contamination.
Total Environmental Science
New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study: Association of Diet and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Compounds in Human Plasma and Milk
Publication date: July 10, 2024
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173157
Authors: Y. Wang, J. Gui, CG Howe, JA Emond, RL Criswell, LG Gallagher, CA Huset, LA Peterson, J. Cook Botelho, AM Calafat< B. Christensen< MR Karaga, ME Romano
English 
French