Swedish study: High levels of PFAS in children’s purees and juices

High levels of PFAS are found in juices and fruit purees for children, according to a study by Örebro University and others. In several products, PFAS levels were higher than the permitted limits for drinking water in European countries.

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, a collective name for a group of more than 10 000 identified substances with varying properties and wide use in society. These substances are synthetically produced and very difficult for nature to break down, and some have been shown to be harmful to animals, humans and the environment

In recent years, various PFAS substances have been found to be widely distributed in the environment, including in water, but also in human blood, for example.

The study, a collaboration between Örebro University, Eurofins Food & Feed Testing AB and the PFAS Competence Center, examined the two chemicals trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS) in juices and fruit and vegetable purees intended for young children.

Higher levels than previously thought

The results show particularly high levels of TFA in hand-pressed oranges and orange juice It was also found in apple juice, but not at such high levels. High levels of TFA were also found in two of the nine purees tested The researchers are not surprised that the chemicals were found in the products, but are concerned about the levels The average level was 34,000 ng/L, with some samples reaching over 80,000 ng/L

– It was higher than I thought, said Leo Yeung, a researcher in chemistry at Örebro University, in a press release.

The researchers analyzed both conventional and organic products, with the organic ones generally having lower levels, although there were exceptions

Exceeding national values for drinking water

They also compared the levels of TFA in the products to national drinking water standards in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands All samples exceeded the approved national values in the Netherlands, and a large proportion of the samples in Denmark and one sample in Germany exceeded the national drinking water values.

– So, our investigation shows that some orange juices and some purees exceeded the limits set by Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany for drinking water, which could have potential health effects, says Yeung.