As of January 1, 2023, limits on the presence of dangerous PFAS contaminants on meat, fish, eggs and other foods of animal origin are finally in effect. After a very long wait, the European Commission has indeed approved Regulation (EU) 2022/2388 amending Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 on contaminants in foodstuffs. (1)
PFAS, limits in foods of animal origin
The new regulation sets maximum levels in micrograms/kg fresh food weight for each of the 4 best-known types of PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS) and their sum.
Foods now subject to the new limits include eggs, meat, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, and offal, as shown in the table extracted from the regulation.
A global threat
Toxic PFAS chemicals are also widely used in the production of many everyday items. They are found in nonstick pots and pans, food packaging in paper and cardboard, waterproof textiles, in cosmetics and electronic materials (e.g., smartphones), among others. (2)
‘Foverever chemicals‘ -so well known for their persistence in the environment and accumulation in the tissues of living organisms, with no possibility of biodegrading-have poisoned much of the planet. To the point of even being found in rainwater in Tibet and Antarctica, as shown by a recent Stockholm University study devoted to global PFAS pollution, published in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology (Cousins et al., 2022). (3)
From the environment to the plate
From soils and water, throughout the food chain, PFASs also contaminate drinking water and a wide variety of foods. Including freshwater fish, as highlighted in very recent study conducted in the USA (Barbo et al., 2023). (4)
Diet is listed as the primary source of human exposure to these toxic chemicals. And PFAS exposure is related to the occurrence of serious diseases, from cancer to endocrine and immune system disruption, infertility and hypercholesterolemia, etc.
Insufficient and delayed protection
The introduction of limits on PFAS molecules in food of animal origin launched in late 2022 by the European Commission is a positive but insufficient, as well as late, event.
In the face of a serious public health hazard, the European Commission has so far limited itself to recommending monitoring, rather than banning or otherwise defining impassable thresholds of contamination. As seen most recently in relation to PFASs with Recommendation 2022/1431 of 24.8.22, as well as for other contaminants. (5)
The European Commission should also follow up on EFSA Opinion 9.7.20 on hazards associated with PFAS to extend contamination limits to livestock feed and pet food. As also noted by Professor Alberto Mantovani, a leading expert in toxicology.
Global ban essential
The pervasiveness and dangerousness of PFAS molecules is unstoppable. The only reasonable action is to immediately ban their use globally, as ChemTrust(Protecting humans and wildlife from harmful chemicals), an organization funded by the Swedish government, has been advocating for years.
Recommended precautions
Pending more effective measures, to avoid further exposure to PFAS, it is useful to pay attention to the choice of everyday products. Some practical tips:
- Avoid pans, frying pans and pots with ‘non-stick’ coatings,
- When consuming fast-food and take-away foods, verify that the packaging is labeled PFAS-free,
- Discard cosmetics whose ingredients list (INCI) includes chemicals whose names contain the words ‘fluorine‘ or ‘PTFE‘,
- Do not use PTFE-coated dental floss,
- Select waterproof clothing labeled as ‘PFAS-free‘ or ‘PFC-free‘.
Marta Strinati
Notes
(1) Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2388 of December 7, 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 regarding maximum levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in certain foodstuffs. Eur-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2388/oj?utm_campaign=Oktopost-sglobal23_EA_EFF&utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Oktopost-LinkedIn&locale=it
(2) Marta Strinati, Dario Dongo. Toxic chemicals in disposable packaging and tableware. PFAS investigation in EU. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 29.5.21
(3) Marta Strinati, Dario Dongo. PFAS in rainwater and food, a global ban urgently needed. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 26.8.22
(4) Nadia Barbo, Tasha Stoiber, Olga V. Naidenko, David Q. Andrews (2023). Locally caught freshwater fish across the United States are likely a significant source of exposure to PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds, Environmental Research, Volume 220, 2023, 115165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.115165
(5) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. PFAS, furans, glycoalkaloids, Alternaria. European Commission ‘recommends’ rather than bans. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 23.9.22
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
