European Union Introduces PFAS Limits in Food to Protect Human Health

| Contaminants & Pesticides
Posted By: Trace One

Trace One_EU-food-additives

On September 17, 2020, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued the scientific opinion "Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food."

With this document, the EFSA is setting a group tolerable weekly intake (TWI) limit for four perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) : namely perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS).

European Food Safety Authority reports healthy food like fish, eggs, and fruit, often contains some of the highest levels of PFAS. The study conducted also reports that these chemicals can easily migrate into the air, dust, food, soil and water (refer to Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food for further indications), and excessive exposure to these chemicals can result in adverse health effects to Immune systems.
The recommended limit is set to a maximum of 4.4 ng/kg body weight/week.

 

View the full article published on our Food News Monitoring System!