Forever Chemicals (PFAS) Found in European Cereals, Bread, and Pasta

Widespread PFAS Contamination in European Foods

• 🎯 A new study by Pesticide Action Europe reveals that many popular cereal-based foods in Europe are contaminated with PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals."
• 📈 One of the most common PFAS, TFA, was detected in over 80% of samples tested across 16 European countries.
• 🍞 TFA was found in a variety of products including breakfast cereals, sweets, pasta, croissants, whole grain and white bread, and flour, often at high levels.

Sources and Persistence of PFAS

• 💧 Exposure to TFA occurs through multiple pathways, including food and drinking water.
• ⏳ PFAS are industrial chemicals used since the 1950s that take hundreds or even thousands of years to break down, persisting in soil and water for generations.

Alarming Findings in Drinking Water

• 🌊 A separate French study found PFAS contamination in 92% of drinking water samples collected over the past three years.
• ⚠️ The presence of PFAS in drinking water is not fully understood, with only a few substances currently being monitored.

Health Risks and Calls for Action

• ⚠️ In recent years, health risks associated with PFAS have become clearer, with some linked to serious illnesses, including cancer.
• 🚫 Campaigners are urgently calling for governments to ban all PFAS-based pesticides and other major sources of these chemicals.