A major study by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe has uncovered alarming levels of a toxic “forever chemical” — trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) — in conventional cereal products sold across 16 European countries. The findings highlight the growing presence of persistent pollutants in everyday foods, prompting renewed calls for stricter pesticide regulation and urgent policy action to protect public health
Widespread contamination across European cereals
TFA, a breakdown product of pesticides containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), was detected in 81.5% of the 65 cereal products analysed. The study found the highest contamination in breakfast cereals, with concentrations reportedly 100 times higher than levels typically found in tap water.
The research included widely consumed items such as wholemeal and refined breads, croissants, pasta, sweets, and flour. Wheat-based foods were found to be significantly more contaminated than other cereal products, suggesting a widespread issue that extends across common European diets.
Irish breakfast cereals showed the highest recorded levels, followed by Belgian wholemeal bread, German wholemeal bread, and French baguettes. Contamination was found even in products like spaghetti, cheese scones and gingerbread.
What are PFAS and why is TFA a concern?
PFAS chemicals, used since the 1950s in numerous industrial and consumer applications, are known as “forever chemicals” due to their exceptional resistance to degradation. Once released into soil or water, they can remain in the environment for centuries, accumulating silently and entering the food chain.
TFA — one such PFAS-related compound — is reprotoxic, meaning it may impair reproductive health, fertility, and foetal development. Studies have also linked it to adverse impacts on the thyroid, liver and immune functions. Public health researchers warn that chronic low-level exposure, especially among children, could pose long-term risks that remain insufficiently understood.
Despite these concerns, most European governments do not routinely monitor TFA in food, leaving potential risks undetected in everyday consumption.
Experts call for urgent bans and stricter limits
The study has intensified pressure on policymakers to set stronger safety standards and to restrict PFAS-based pesticides.
Salomé Roynel, policy officer at PAN Europe, emphasised the urgency:
“All people are exposed to TFA through multiple pathways, including food and drinking water. Our findings underscore the urgent need for an immediate ban of PFAS pesticides to stop further contamination of the food chain.”
Angeliki Lysimachou, head of science and policy at PAN Europe, added that all tested samples exceeded the default maximum residue limit.
“We cannot expose children to reprotoxic chemicals. This demands immediate action.”
Campaigners argue that without swift intervention, contamination could increase over time, given TFA’s high solubility and capacity to be absorbed by crops.
Implications for the UK and global food safety
Although the United Kingdom was not part of this study, PFAS-based pesticides remain widely used there. The country currently allows 27 PFAS-containing pesticide active ingredients, six of which are classified as highly hazardous. Their use enhances pesticide persistence and biological activity — the same traits that contribute to long-term environmental contamination.
For countries like India, including Karnataka with growing concerns about food quality and soil health, the findings offer a cautionary signal. As global food supply chains become more interconnected, contaminants detected in one region may reflect broader systemic issues, underscoring the need for local monitoring and stronger regulations.
Parents, educators, and public health advocates in Mangaluru and neighbouring districts have increasingly voiced concerns about chemical exposure in processed foods. While Indian regulations differ, experts say the European findings should encourage authorities to strengthen residue testing, invest in soil quality assessments, and promote safer agricultural practices.