High levels of a toxic “forever chemical” have been found in cereal products across Europe because of its presence in pesticides.
The most contaminated food is breakfast cereal, according to a study by Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN), with average concentrations 100 times higher than in tap water.
The study found trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a chemical produced when pesticides containing Pfas chemicals break down into the soil, in breakfast cereals, popular sweets, pasta, croissants, wholemeal and refined bread, and flour.
TFA is reprotoxic, which means it has the potential to harm human reproductive function, fertility, and foetal development. It has also been linked to adverse effects on thyroid, liver and immune functions. Campaigners are calling on governments to set a far more protective TFA safety limit and to ban all Pfas pesticides and other sources of TFA. Currently, governments do not monitor TFA in food.
TFA was detected in 81.5% of samples (53 out of 65 samples) across 16 European countries, with high contamination levels. Wheat products are significantly more contaminated than other cereal-based products.
I don’t think greed is the only answer. There is a legitimate demand for food, and pests are constantly adapting to various pesticides. I think the answer is greed and some other nuance.
Thought for food growth nore for fighting pestilance you need neither PFAS nore plastic. PFAS’ are especially used to make cloths hydrophobic and cooking wear “non stick”.
The first was invented by Tefflon