Strawberries, grapes, and many other fruits and vegetables grown in Britain have been found to contain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAs.
Strawberries, grapes, and various other fruits and vegetables have been discovered to harbor chemicals derived from pesticides that environmental activists claim can persist for centuries in the ecosystem.
Referred to as “forever chemicals,” per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) were detected in a variety of foods in 2022 through government testing analyzed by the Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK).
There are now over 10,000 variations of PFAs, utilized in a multitude of products ranging from waterproof cosmetics and stain repellents to carpets and non-stick cookware.
PAN UK’s analysis of government test results revealed PFAs present in 95 percent of strawberry samples, 61 percent of grape samples, and 38 percent of tomato samples.
High concentrations of PFAs were also found in cherries and spinach.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has an advisory committee on pesticide residues that tested over 3,300 samples of food and beverages within the UK supply chain in 2022.
They were specifically examining residues from 401 pesticides used on crops.
PFAs were detected in peaches, cucumbers, apricots, and beans in at least 15 percent of samples.
‘Consumers Left With No Choice But to Ingest These Chemicals’
Nick Mole from PAN UK expressed concern, stating, “Given the mounting evidence linking PFAs to serious illnesses such as cancer, it is alarming that UK consumers are unwittingly consuming these chemicals, some of which may persist in their bodies for years to come.”
“We urgently need a better understanding of the health risks associated with ingesting these ‘forever chemicals’ and must strive to eliminate them from the food chain,” he added.
PAN UK is urging the government to ban 25 PFA pesticides currently in use in Britain, six of which are labeled as “highly hazardous.”
PAN UK highlighted that MRLs do not account for other potential sources of PFA exposure, such as plastic food packaging, drinking water, and various household products.
In 2004, DuPont settled a class action lawsuit with 50,000 residents living near a Parkersburg, West Virginia factory where perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a key Teflon ingredient, was produced.
Global concerns have been raised about PFAs, which studies have linked to serious health issues such as cancers, hormonal disruptions, immune system disorders, and liver disease.
Cassie Barker, toxics program manager at Environmental Defence, informed Canada’s environment committee that PFAs have one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry, making them extremely resistant to breakdown.
New Findings From Australia
Recently, the University of New South Wales in Australia published research revealing the presence of PFAs in surface and groundwater worldwide.
The researchers noted, “They have been associated with environmental and health concerns, including certain cancers, but much remains unknown about the full extent and potential impacts of the issue.”
Shubhi Sharma from Chem Trust, an organization advocating for protection from harmful chemicals, remarked, “PFAs are a group of entirely man-made chemicals that did not exist on Earth a century ago and now pervade every corner of the globe.”
The Epoch Times has reached out to Defra for comment.
PA Media contributed to this report.
