Analytical Results of Testing Food for PFAS from Environmental Contamination
<< Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
The FDA has been consistently testing fresh and processed foods from the U.S. food supply since 2019. Most of our testing is of samples collected for the Total Diet Study (TDS). We are also conducting targeted sampling assignments to assess PFAS in specific foods. In addition, as part of our technical assistance to states, the FDA tests foods grown, raised, or produced in areas with known environmental contamination, to detect and evaluate potential contamination of human and animal food.
We are committed to sharing our testing results for PFAS in the general food supply with the public through posting and publishing data. Results are made available after the FDA has completed our human health assessments.
- For more information about the FDA’s validated PFAS testing method and our human health assessment approach, please visit: Testing Food for PFAS and Assessing Dietary Exposure.
- For the scientific method, please visit: Determination of 30 Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
- For the 20 analytes validated in seafood, please visit: Analysis of Per- and Poly(fluoroalkyl) Substances (PFASs) in Highly Consumed Seafood Products from U.S. Markets
- For the 30 analytes validated in food and feed, please visit: Analyte and matrix method extension of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food and feed
- For more information on how to avoid analytical interference when testing for PFAS, please visit: PFAS ghosts: how to identify, evaluate, and exorcise new and existing analytical interference
- Dairy Farm, 2018-2021: Samples were collected from two dairy farms (Farm A & Farm B) with known PFAS contamination of groundwater. Based on the best available current science, the FDA had no indication that the levels of PFAS found in the limited sampling of milk from Farm B and cheese from Farm A presented a human health concern. The milk samples from Farm A had levels of PFAS that could be a potential human health concern. The FDA has analyzed multiple collections of samples to assess PFAS levels and all milk from Farm A was discarded and did not enter the food supply.
- Produce, 2018: Produce samples were analyzed from an area with known PFAS environmental contamination, in addition to 1 sample purchased outside of the area as a control. Sixteen of the 20 samples had detectable levels of PFAS. Based on the best available current science, the FDA has no indication that these substances, at the levels found in the sampling, present a human health concern. This sample size is limited; therefore, these results cannot be used to draw definitive conclusions about the levels of PFAS in produce grown in this area more generally.
- Cranberries, 2016: Cranberry samples were analyzed from a bog containing water with known PFAS environmental contamination. None of the 42 cranberry samples had detectable levels of PFAS. This sample size is limited; therefore, these results cannot be used to draw definitive conclusions about cranberries grown in this area more generally.
- Investigation into perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in a cranberry bog: method development and sampling results. Susan Genualdi, Nahyun Jeong, Lowri deJager and Timothy Begley. FOOD ADDITIVES & CONTAMINANTS: PART A, 2017, VOL. 34, NO. 12, 2181–2189.
Beginning in 2019, the FDA has tested for PFAS in multiple collections of food samples from the Total Diet Study. The sample sizes for each individual food are limited; therefore, these results cannot be used to draw definitive conclusions about the levels of PFAS in the general food supply. The results do, however, help the FDA to identify foods that may be at a higher risk for PFAS contamination to help the agency determine if a more targeted or larger survey may be helpful to better understand PFAS in specific types of foods.
TDS Regional Sample Collections: Composite of multiple samples of each type of food (from three different cities in a region) are tested. Regionally distributed foods are more likely to vary by location or time of year, such as fresh produce, meats, and dairy products.
- Results from the first set of TDS samples analyzed showed that two of the 91 samples had detectable levels of one type of PFAS.
Analytical Results for PFAS in 2019 Total Diet Study Sampling (Parts Per Trillion)— Dataset—1 in PDF, in XLSX, Update Posted October 2020 - Results from the second set of TDS samples analyzed showed that one of the 88 samples had a detectable level of one type of PFAS.
Analytical Results for PFAS in 2019 Total Diet Study Sampling (Parts Per Trillion)— Dataset—2 in PDF, in XLSX, Update Posted October 2020 - Results from the third set of TDS samples analyzed showed that one of the 94 samples had a detectable level of two types of PFAS.
Analytical Results for PFAS in 2021 Total Diet Study Sampling (Parts Per Trillion)— Dataset—3 in PDF, in XLSX, Posted June 2021 - Results from the fifth set of TDS samples analyzed showed that three of 92 samples had a detectable level of one to three types of PFAS.
Analytical Results for PFAS in 2021 Total Diet Study Sampling (Parts Per Trillion)—Dataset—5 in PDF, in XLSX, Posted February 2022 - Results from the sixth set of TDS samples analyzed showed that two of 93 samples had a detectable level of four types of PFAS.
Analytical Results for PFAS in 2021 Total Diet Study Sampling (Parts Per Trillion)—Dataset—6 in PDF, in XLSX, Posted May 2023 - Results from the seventh set of TDS samples analyzed showed that five of 93 samples had a detectable level of one to two types of PFAS.
Analytical Results for PFAS in 2021 Total Diet Study Sampling (Parts Per Trillion)—Dataset—7 in PDF, in XLSX, Update Posted September 2023 - Results from the eighth set of TDS samples analyzed showed that eight of 95 samples had a detectable level of one to three types of PFAS.
Analytical Results for PFAS in 2021 Total Diet Study Sampling (Parts Per Trillion)—Dataset—8 in PDF, in XLSX, Posted April 2024
TDS National Sample Collections: Composite of multiple samples of each type of food (different brands) are tested. Nationally distributed foods are less likely to vary by location or time of year, such as prepared baby foods and salad dressing.
- Results from the fourth set of TDS samples analyzed showed that three of the 167 samples had a detectable level of one to three types of PFAS.
Analytical Results for PFAS in 2021 Total Diet Study Sampling (Parts Per Trillion)— Dataset—4 in PDF, in XLSX, Posted August 2021
FDA Human Health Assessment for TDS Regional and National Collections: Currently there are eight PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA ⌈GenX⌉, PFBS, PFBA, and PFHxA) from environmental contamination for which there are toxicological reference values that are used to assess the potential human health concern for levels found in food. Based on the best available current science, the FDA has no indication that the PFAS at the levels found in the limited sampling of foods collected for the TDS present a human health concern.
- Seafood, 2022: Samples from 8 types of seafood, primarily imported, and including fresh, frozen, processed, canned, and seafood in pouches collected at retail locations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and purchased online were analyzed for PFAS. To inform the collection of seafood samples, the FDA identified the countries of origin from which the greatest share of the market is imported by the U.S. Sampling also took into account whether the seafood typically consumed are either wild-caught or raised via aquaculture. Sixty of the samples had detectable levels of PFAS, with most samples having more than one type of PFAS detected. The FDA determined that of the PFAS evaluated, the levels of PFOA in the 10 clam samples are likely a health concern. The FDA is working to determine the scope of the problem and taking action to ensure the continued safety of the U.S. food supply.
- Carbonated Water and Non-Carbonated Bottled Water, 2016: Samples of domestic and imported carbonated water and non-carbonated bottled water were collected at retail locations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and analyzed for PFAS. The samples included: purified, artesian, spring, mineral, and carbonated waters. None of the 30 samples had detectable levels of PFAS. This sample size is limited; therefore, these results cannot be used to draw definitive conclusions about the levels of PFAS in carbonated water and non-carbonated bottled water more generally.
- Seafood, 2013: Fish and shellfish samples from 13 species of fresh and saltwater fish from across the country were analyzed for PFAS. Eleven of the 46 samples had detectable levels of PFAS. Based on the best available current science, the FDA has no indication that these substances at the levels found in the limited sampling present a human health concern. This sample size is limited; therefore, these results cannot be used to draw definitive conclusions about the levels of PFAS in seafood more generally.
- Milk, 2012: Raw and retail milks were sampled from across the country and analyzed for PFAS. One of the 12 raw milk samples and none of the 49 retail milk samples had detectable levels of PFAS. The one raw milk sample with detectable PFAS was obtained from a dairy farm that had applied PFAS containing biosolids to its fields. Based on the best available current science, the FDA has no indication that these substances at the levels found in the limited sampling present a human health concern. The sample size is limited; therefore, these results cannot be used to draw definitive conclusions about the levels of PFAS in milk more generally.