FDA’s Inaction on Pfas in Food Exposes Public to Further Risk

The US Food and Drug Administration’s rejection of a petition to set limits on toxic Pfas “forever chemicals” in food marks another disturbing chapter in the agency’s handling of public health concerns. Despite mounting evidence of widespread contamination, the FDA opted for non-binding “action levels” that do little to ensure consumer safety.

While the Environmental Protection Agency has acknowledged that food is a significant source of Pfas exposure, the FDA seems more interested in managing risk perception than actual risk. The agency’s decision to reject the petition filed by the Tucson Environmental Justice Task Force was particularly galling, as it scaled back demands to focus on two specific compounds – PFOA and PFOS – in seafood and milk.

The science on Pfas is clear: these chemicals are linked to serious health problems, including cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, and high cholesterol. The FDA’s response has been inadequate, leaving consumers to bear the brunt of this toxic legacy. Its testing program is similarly lacking, with limited annual sampling that fails to capture moderate levels of contamination.

Pfas get into food through pesticides, packaging, and sewage sludge used as fertilizer – and polluted water used in processing or growing can contaminate food. Independent testing has revealed high levels of Pfas in meat and crops grown on farms that use contaminated fertilizers, while some state agencies have been forced to remove contaminated food from shelves.

The FDA’s reliance on “action levels” rather than strict limits is a recipe for disaster. These non-binding thresholds do not require companies to remove contaminated products from the market, leaving consumers unprotected. Sandra Daussin of the Tucson Environmental Justice Task Force noted that “Your body doesn’t know how the PFAS got in there.” This lack of transparency adds to the public’s distrust of an agency more interested in managing risk perception than actual risk.

The FDA’s handling of Pfas in food is part of a broader pattern of regulatory failure. In 2019, the agency changed its methodology for testing Pfas contamination, effectively ignoring relatively low to moderate levels that can still pose health risks. Experts like Brian Ronholm criticized this change, likening it to manipulating radar guns to detect speeding.

As the public struggles to make sense of this regulatory maze, one thing is clear: the FDA’s inaction on Pfas in food puts consumers at risk. It’s time for the agency to take a more proactive approach to protecting public health – rather than relying on non-binding thresholds and limited testing. The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction will be severe.

The question now is what comes next: will the FDA finally address Pfas contamination in food with concrete steps or continue to rely on weak regulations that prioritize industry interests over public health? Consumers deserve better than an agency more concerned with managing risk perception than actual risk.