A new PAN Europe study reveals high levels of the “forever chemical” trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), recently found to cause harm to reproduction and development, in everyday cereal products across Europe. The most contaminated food is a typical breakfast cereal. Average concentrations are 107 times higher than those in tap water. The report shows our diet is a significant pathway of human exposure. PAN Europe and its network of organisations call on regulators to immediately set a far more protective TFA safety limit and to ban all PFAS pesticides and other sources of TFA.
The study analysed 66 conventional cereal products purchased across 16 European countries, including breakfast cereals, popular sweets, pasta, croissants, wholemeal and refined bread, and flour. As food authorities do not monitor TFA in foods, this is the first study of its kind at the EU level. It builds on previous reports of high TFA levels in European wines and widespread contamination of tap water.
Key findings include:
- Widespread contamination of cereal-based products across Europe: TFA was detected in 81.8% of samples (54 out of 66 samples) across 16 European countries.
- High contamination levels: the average TFA concentration was 78.9 μg/kg, with peak values of up to 360 μg/kg. Wheat products are significantly more contaminated than other cereal-based products.
- Food, beyond drinking water, is the most significant route of exposure: the TFA levels found are 107 times higher than the average TFA concentration in tap water [1].
- No specific EU MRLs exist for TFA, and recent studies show it’s harmful to reproduction, development and thyroid; therefore, the default MRL of 0.01 mg/kg (10 μg/kg) should apply, which also applies for pesticide substances that cause this toxicity. Yet, 54 samples exceeded the default MRL.
Contamination all over Europe:
- 360 µg/kg in breakfast cereals (purchased in Ireland)
- 340 µg/kg in Belgian wholemeal bread
- 310 µg/kg in wheat flour (produced in Germany)
- 210 µg/kg in a French baguette
- 200 µg/kg in Swiss Rauchbrot
- 180 µg/kg in a French croissant
- 130 µg/kg in Dutch gingerbread (pepernoten) – a popular children’s treat at Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas Day)
- 120 µg/kg in Spanish toasting bread
- 120 µg/kg in flour from Luxembourg
- 74 µg/kg in Austrian breadcrumbs
- 62 µg/kg in Polish spelt toast bread
- 49 µg/kg in Bulgarian biscuits
- 49 µg/kg in corn flour from Romania
- 42 µg/kg in a Czech poppy seed bun
- 31 µg/kg in Hungarian coarse oat flakes
- 26 µg/kg in Italian spaghetti (the tip of the iceberg, only one sample tested)
- 17 µg/kg in Greek rusks with olive oil
"All people are exposed to TFA through multiple pathways, including food and drinking water. Our findings underscore the urgent need for an immediate ban of PFAS pesticides to stop further contamination of the food chain," said Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer at PAN Europe.
TFA, a breakdown product of PFAS pesticides and F-gases, is extremely persistent, mobile and toxic to reproduction and development. Industry studies also link it to reduced sperm quality, and adverse effects on the thyroid, liver and immune functions. Due to its water solubility, TFA accumulates in water and soils, where it becomes absorbed by plants. Studies collectively indicate that wheat may be particularly efficient at accumulating TFA, which may explain the high TFA accumulation found in products such as bread, pasta and children biscuits.
"Levels of TFA exceeded the default maximum residue limit for reprotoxic or hormone-disrupting substances in 81.8% of the samples. Pesticides that emit TFA must be urgently banned. We cannot allow children and pregnant women to be exposed to chemicals that we know harm reproductive health," added Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy at PAN Europe.
PAN Europe urges EFSA to set a protective safety value for TFA, calls on the European Commission and Member States to ban PFAS pesticides and to monitor TFA in food.
Read the full report: LINK
Read Q&A: LINK
Notes:
[1] PAN Europe’s investigation TFA: The Forever Chemical in the Water We Drink (2024) found an average TFA concentration of 740 ng/L, in 36 tap water samples collected across 11 EU countries.
Learn more:
- Briefing on PFAS pesticides and TFA - list of authorised PFAS pesticides
- Ban PFAS pesticides and TFA - page with headlines of the TFA problem and our reports
The study was carried out by PAN Europe in collaboration with its network of member organisations and environmental NGOs: Global 2000 (Austria), Bond Beter Leefmilieu (Belgium - Flanders), Nature & Progrès Belgique (Belgium - Wallonia), Via Pontica Foundation (Bulgaria), Arnika (Czech Republic), Générations Futures (France), Ecocity (Greece), Friends of the Earth Hungary, International Society of Doctors for the Environment (Italy), Friends of the Irish Environment (Ireland), Irish Environmental Network (Ireland), Mouvement Écologique (Luxembourg), PAN Germany, PAN Netherlands, Living Earth Coalition (Poland), Romapis (Romania), Ecologistas en Acción (Spain), WWF Switzerland.
Contact:
- Salomé Roynel, PAN Europe, salome [at] pan-europe.info, + 32 451 02 31 33
- Angeliki Lysimachou, PAN Europe, angeliki [at] pan-europe.info, +32 23186255
[3] PAN Europe’s report Manufacturing Doubt, September 2025
