‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in UK Food

Recent research has uncovered the presence of numerous PFAS pesticides in common food items across the UK. Analysis by PAN UK of the UK government's residue testing program revealed the presence of ten different PFAS pesticides in spices, as well as various fruits and vegetables such as grapes, cherries, spinach, and tomatoes. Notably, strawberries were found to have the highest levels, with PFAS pesticides detected in 95% of the 120 samples tested in 2022, while grapes contained PFAS pesticides in 61% of the 109 samples, and cherries in 56% of the 121 samples.

PFAS, a group of approximately 10,000 chemicals, have earned the moniker "forever chemicals" due to their ability to persist in the environment and accumulate in the bodies of living organisms, including humans. These chemicals can take anywhere from a decade to over 1,000 years to fully degrade in the environment. While commonly associated with household products like non-stick cookware, PFAS can also be present in certain pesticides, thus making their way into human bodies through dietary intake.

What does this mean?

There is limited UK research on associated health issues, often used by the government and chemicals industry to delay action. Studies in other countries link PFAS exposure to cancer risk, fertility decreases, and weakened immune systems.

PAN UK analysed data from the UK Government’s Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food, testing 2,500 food samples annually. UK findings align with European research showing PFAS residues in fruits and vegetables. UK-grown strawberries had 91% PFAS contamination in 2022, dwarfing EU figures.

The UK currently uses 25 PFAS pesticides, including lambda-cyhalothrin, highly toxic to humans and bees. Despite its 'forever chemical' nature, farmers are unaware of its presence due to label lack. Environment Agency doesn't monitor rivers for these pesticides, leaving their impact on water sources unknown.

Our UKAS Accredited Pesticide Testing laboratory based in Kent, QTS Analytical — A Tentamus Company, UK is an expert at delivering accurate testing results on fresh produce for British farmers and growers. Reach out to us at HelloUK@tentamus.com!