Transfer of PFAS from feed to food of animal origin

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS for short, are chemicals that are used in many industrial processes. Plants can absorb these substances through the soil and water for irigation.

This is how PFAS enter the body of farm animals through plant-based feed and from there, through the consumption of animal-based food, into the human body. From January 2023, maximum levels for perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoro-nonanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluoro-ooctane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) as well as for the sum of these four PFAS in selected animal foodstuffs will apply in the EU.

It would be helpful for livestock farmers to know the maximum PFAS content in plant-based complete feed so that the animal-derived food does not exceed the EU limits in the end.

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has addressed this issue and, with the help of toxicokinetic modelling, has made corresponding estimates for cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.

YOUR PLUS: The AGROLAB residue laboratories analyse and evaluate food and feed for PFAS content in accordance with current EU legislation.

Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger