The facts about 'forever chemicals' in our food
Recent reports show ‘forever chemicals’ – toxic compounds used in pesticides, non-stick pans and packaging – are found in 50% of our food and drink. But what exactly are they, and are they harmful to our health?
When you hear about chemicals in food, you’d probably assume it’s the artificial additives, colourings or preservatives used in ultra-processed foods. But ‘forever chemicals’ are different – these aren’t ingredients, but compounds used throughout the lifecycle of a food product, such as pesticides and packaging.
A 2024 analysis of the UK government’s residue testing programme concluded that forever chemicals were found in more than half of fruits and vegetables, while tests by the Royal Society of Chemistry found them in the drinking water sources of 17 of England’s 18 water companies. A 2023 study revealed forever chemicals were also in nearly 50% of all US tap water.
The big issue is these chemicals have been linked to serious health problems such as high cholesterol, an increased risk of some cancers, fertility issues and developmental difficulties in unborn babies.
So, how much of a risk do forever chemicals pose to our health? And what can we do to avoid them?
What are forever chemicals?
Time for a science lesson: forever chemicals are a group of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs). More than 10,000 PFAs are used in a wide range of products including waterproof fabrics, non-stick cookware, food packaging, pesticides, carpets, soft furnishings, electrical insulation and cosmetics.
PFAs make things incredibly resistant to heat, oil, and water but this also means they take a very long time to break down – some experts say thousands of years – hence the nickname ‘forever’ chemicals. Plus, they travel easily, leaking out into the surrounding atmosphere and polluting our water, food and air.
Not all PFAs are dangerous, and some of the most harmful have been restricted since studies discovered their harmful effects. This means there are now maximum levels allowed in some products, like food, while others such as fire-fighting foam have different limits or are deemed an ‘acceptable’ use of PFAs until alternatives are found.
But even if their use is restricted, PFAs can still build up in the environment – and in us.
Sara Brosché, a science advisor at the International Pollutants Elimination Network, says, “Toxic PFAS are today present in most living beings and the environment, and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future because of their persistence.”
Where have PFAs been found?
Nearly everywhere. From the blood of polar bears to sewage sludge, and household dust to fish caught in our seas. At least 45% of US tap water has been shown to contain PFAs – no wonder 98% of Americans now have PFAs in their blood, while European studies repeatedly find PFAs in our blood too.
Apart from drinking and absorbing them, another major source of PFAs is our food. The residue analysis by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) found 56% of all fruit and vegetables tested contained PFAs. Samples, taken from major supermarket shelves and smaller local shops, contained 10 different types of PFA pesticides.
Strawberries were the worst, with 95% of samples containing PFA pesticides (although no PFAs above recommended levels were found in the organic strawberries tested) while a high number of grape, cherry, tomato and spinach samples also contained PFA pesticides.
Food packaging is another significant source of PFAs. This isn’t just from plastic containers but any paper, cardboard and wrappers treated with PFAs to make them resistant to grease, water and heat; your takeaway pizza box could be a classic culprit.
With all these PFAs in our food and drink – and even in the air we breathe – building up inside us, what damage are they doing?
How forever chemicals harm our health
The European Environment Agency (EEA) says the known health impacts of PFAs include, but are not limited to:
● thyroid disease
● raised cholesterol levels
● liver damage
● certain cancers such as breast, kidney and testicular
● fertility issues like increased time to pregnancy and low birth weight
● developmental problems in unborn children leading to low sperm count and obesity
● inflammatory bowel disease
The PFAS-tox Database compiled the results of nearly 750 scientific studies on the effects of PFAs and found they could also increase the risk of:
● high blood pressure
● diabetes
● resistance to vaccines
● problems with your immune system
● asthma and allergies
● changes in bone structure
This looks like pretty conclusive evidence, but you don’t develop these conditions after being exposed to forever chemicals just once or twice. Rather, it’s the steady accumulation of these tiny, toxic particles over time that’s cause for concern.
There’s also evidence to show newer PFAs, developed to replace the older varieties, can have just as damaging an effect on our health. And because we don’t yet know the ‘cocktail effect’ of having several PFAs in our bodies, scientists are unsure what combinations are safe. Until we do, it makes sense to limit your exposure.
Easy ways to avoid PFAs
The good news is even though PFA pesticides were found in half of our fruits and vegetables, they were well below the maximum residue limits. You could switch to organic produce, which is grown without pesticides, but they may still contain small amounts of PFAs absorbed from the surrounding soil and water supply.
Try upping your intake of dark green leafy vegetables, peas, beans and wholegrains. There’s some evidence that a diet rich in fibre and folate, both found in these foods, can help slow the build-up of PFAs in our bodies and reduce their impact. They’re also packed with essential nutrients to help maintain good health.
When it comes to drinking water, in 2024 the US announced a ban on six PFAs commonly found in tap water. In the UK, the Royal Society of Chemistry is urging the government to drastically reduce acceptable levels of PFAs in drinking water, while some European countries have already set their own safe limits for specific PFAs.
If you want to remove PFAs from your tap water, filter jugs are only partially effective. But a joint study by Duke University and North Carolina State University found reverse osmosis and two-stage filters removed nearly all PFAs – you can install these systems under your sink at home. Avoiding plastic bottled water has many health and environmental advantages too.
For cooking, avoid using non-stick pans or look for those with a PFA-free coating; they may be labelled PFC- or PFOA-free as these are the most commonly used PFAs in cookware. If you’re concerned about using greaseproof or baking paper at home, you can now buy PFA-free parchment in most supermarkets.
And if you’re having a takeaway, give the kebabs, burgers and chips wrapped in greaseproof paper a miss – unless you live in Denmark. The Danes banned all PFAs in food packaging in 2020, but research shows many fast-food wrappers in the UK are still treated with PFAs. Cutting these foods out can also be good for your health.
What else can you do?
Trying to eliminate PFAs from everyday life can feel like an overwhelming task, but campaigners say it’s not a task we should be tackling alone. Instead, we should be putting pressure on governments and manufacturers to restrict forever chemicals.
PAN is calling on the government to ban the 25 PFA pesticides still in use, while the EEA is exploring “precautionary approaches to managing PFAs”, including setting ‘group limits’ and Europe-wide safe levels for drinking water. However, some chemical companies are already pushing back against any potential restrictions.
A future without any forever chemicals currently looks unlikely, but we can still take small steps to reduce our individual exposure and urge those in power to take the giant leaps necessary to protect our health and the environment from harmful PFAs.
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