An NGO study finds high levels of “forever chemicals” in breakfast cereals

The cereals that are consumed daily for breakfast in the European Union present «high levels» of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a persistent chemical and toxic to reproduction, according to a study released this Thursday by the European Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe).

“All people are exposed to AGTs through multiple pathways, including food and drinking water. Our findings underscore the urgent need to immediately ban PFAS pesticides to stop further contamination of the food chain,” said PAN Europe’s policy officer, Salomé Roynel, in a statement. PFAS are a group of nearly 4,000 synthetic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, highly resistant to degradation and present in numerous products, including pesticides and fluorinated gases used in refrigerants and fire extinguishers. Study by NGO finds high levels of “forever chemicals” in breakfast cereals conducted by that organization covers 65 conventional cereal products purchased in 16 European countries, including Spain, and includes breakfast cereals, popular sweets, pasta, croissants, whole and refined bread, and flour.

81.5% of the samples, contaminated

The conclusions show that the “most contaminated food is a typical breakfast cereal”, as “the average concentrations are 100 times higher than those of tap water” in the case of trifluoroacetic acid. 81.5% of the analyzed samples were contaminated with TFA, with the highest levels in whole-wheat bread purchased in Belgium, with 340 micrograms per liter (µg/l) and the lowest in cheese marketed in Hungary (14 µg/kg), while the PAN Europe study attributes 120 µg/l in toast bread. The analyses also show a concentration of 26 µg in the Italian pasta, although PAN Europe warns that it may be just “the tip of the iceberg” because only one sample was scrutinized. «TFA, a degradation product of PFAS pesticides and fluorinated gases, is extremely persistent, mobile, and toxic to reproduction. Industry studies also link it to lower sperm quality and adverse effects on thyroid, liver, and immune functions«, PAN Europe pointed out. That water-soluble chemical compound accumulates in water and soil, where it is absorbed by plants, which could explain the high concentrations found in products such as bread, pasta, and children’s biscuits. “All samples exceeded the maximum predetermined residue limit. We cannot expose children to toxic chemicals for reproduction. This demands immediate action,” underlined the environmental organization, which calls on the European Commission and the Member States to ban PFAS pesticides and monitor the TFA content in food. The European Commission has already restricted some PFAS in consumer products such as pizza boxes or cosmetics and plans to present a revision of the REACH regulation on chemicals in 2026.