You might already know that using certain nonstick cookware can lead to ingestion of toxic PFAS chemicals. This is especially true if the nonstick pan coating is worn or peeling. While many people know about Teflon (a PFAS chemical) on their nonstick pans, it may surprise you that PFAS are found in many other everyday items. Continue reading to learn more about the many surprising ways that your food or drinks may lead to PFAS exposure. By understanding where PFAS lurks, perhaps you can make small changes in your lifestyle to reduce exposure.
A trace (or more) of PFAS in your water
Let’s start with one of the most common sources of PFAS exposure. Your drinking water may have high levels of PFAS, especially if your water comes from sources close to military or industrial sites. The Environmental Working Group provides a resource to look up PFAS levels in your water. If you have high PFAS contamination in your water, consider water filters to remove PFAS and other contaminants.
If you regularly drink bottled water thinking that it's cleaner or safer, think again. A study by Johns Hopkins University found that 39 out of 100 bottled water brands had meaningful levels of PFAS. Some water brands contained more PFAS than others. Interestingly, more of the “spring” bottled water had high PFAS compared to “purified” bottled water.
Combo meal: A side of PFAS with your burgers and fries
Most people don’t think about how their food is packaged, transported, or served. That may change as more research and news come out about PFAS in food wrappers and containers. For example, there was a recall of a certain brand of butter in 2023. It was due to PFAS in the wrapper around the butter.
Plenty of foods contain PFAS due to the package lining. This is meant to keep foods from sticking to the package or increase shelf-life. Ultra processed foods like mass-produced cookies, chips, and the like have had PFAS for many years. Some manufacturers have voluntarily stopped using PFAS, but it’s still around. You can also find PFAS in microwave popcorn bags, plastic zipper pouches and bags, cupcake liners, parchment paper, and plastic disposable straws.
Aside from store-bought packaged foods, fast food wrappers are a big culprit when it comes to PFAS. Your typical drive-through restaurant wraps their burgers in PFAS-lined wrappers. Same goes for the box or bag that they put your french fries in. Oh, and that large diet soda? There’s PFAS in the waterproof liner inside the cup. And it’s not just fast food restaurants. Many takeaway or to-go containers from sit-down restaurants are also lined with grease-proof or water-resistant PFAS. And while the FDA is regulating the use of PFAS in fast food wrappers, you can’t be sure until some time passes.
Other foods with PFAS
Water, packaged food, and fast food all have PFAS contamination. What other food contains PFAS? It turns out that peanut butter, cooking oils, condiments, and pasta sauces can have PFAS as well. Some of this is due to the food processing machinery and chemicals used in the production process. Other PFAS contamination may be due to the soil and water used to grow the food. Seafood including fish and shellfish are a major dietary source of PFAS due to water contamination. Whatever the case, it’s good to be aware that some types of foods may have higher levels of PFAS.
What to do about all this PFAS?
The US EPA, state agencies, and environmental organizations are pushing for additional regulations and reductions in the use of PFAS chemicals. Change takes time, and you may not want to wait or rely on these organizations. For the individual, one of the best courses of action is to reduce exposures from food and beverage products.
Start by understanding where PFAS is coming from in your day-to-day living. There are so many places where PFAS chemicals hide. It takes little effort to do a quick search to see if food containers or products have PFAS. Once you know where PFAS is coming from, try to make simple changes to reduce their use. If possible, seek out foods and beverages that have less or no PFAS. For example, try simple changes like a refillable, stainless steel cup instead of drinking single-use, plastic bottled water. Take your tumbler to your coffee shop instead of getting your coffee in their single use cup. Skip a fast-food meal once a week and cook at home instead. Pop your own popcorn from kernels instead of grabbing the microwave popcorn.
As you start to make these changes, you should see changes in PFAS levels over time. And to track your progress, test your blood for PFAS regularly with Relentless Health’s PFAS test.
