High levels of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ have been detected in those that consume a diet rich in white rice, eggs, red meat, seafood and coffee, according to the latest research into dietary sources of the synthetic chemicals.  

The study, published in July​, took blood and breast milk samples from more than 1,500 mothers living in New Hampshire in the US, collected since 2009.

It found that for ‘every one’ standard deviation in intake of eggs per day the participants saw a 4.4% increase in PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) in their bloodstream, as well as a 3.3% and 10.3% rise respectively in levels of PFOA (perfluorooctanoate) and PFDA (perfluorodecanoate).

A similar increase in concentrations was found among those eating high quantities of white rice, red meat, coffee and seafood.

The latest finding follows mounting concern around the presence of the synthetic chemicals in everyday foods, which have been linked to a number of health problems​, including cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage and fertility issues.

‘Contaminated every corner of the globe’​

These latest findings into the presence of PFAS chemicals in food supply chains are “alarming but not entirely surprising,” says Eadaoin Carthy, an assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in Dublin City University.

“These chemicals have been detected in various environmental media, including water, soil, and air, which eventually leads to their presence in the food supply,” she explains. “There has been growing concern and research over the past decade about PFAS contamination, particularly in drinking water and consumer products. However, the extent of their prevalence in food items like white rice, eggs, red meat, seafood, and coffee underscores a broader and more pervasive issue than previously understood.”