Advances in assessing residues of perfluoroalkyl substances in foods

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants (POP) that can accumulate in food systems. This chapter examines their sources, detection, and mitigation strategies in food. Sources include environmental contamination through soil, water, and air, as well as animal feed, and migration from food contact materials. Analyzing these substances at the required levels is complex due to the diversity of PFAS and food matrices, analytical limitations, and contamination risks. Furthermore, it remains challenging to obtain monitoring data for exposure assessment and to comply with current European regulations. Mitigation strategies for agriculture include soil amendments and phytoremediation, while animal exposure can be reduced through improved practices. Case studies highlight regional variation in PFAS contamination and variation concerning the impact food processing may have on these substances. This stresses the need for more sensitive analytical methods, extended regulations, reduced exposure risk and innovative remediation approaches to address PFAS contamination more effectively.