PFAS testing for food: facing a new era of regulations with confidence

What’s for dinner? They’re not on your grocery list, but you’re quite possibly dining on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment, PFAS are synthetic chemicals used to make products resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease and water. The amount of products manufactured using PFAS is staggering: from furniture, clothing, mobile phone screens and cosmetics to heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, pizza boxes and all sorts of packaging. PFAS are everywhere, and they’re getting into your food.

Growing awareness of the widespread use of PFAS and public concern about their potential health risks has put PFAS under greater scrutiny and regulation, including a growing focus on the presence of PFAS in food due to contamination at various stages of the food chain, from environmental exposure in soil and water to food processing and packaging materials.

However, detecting and monitoring these "forever chemicals" is complex due to their persistence, low detection limits and diverse chemical structures. To navigate the complex, dynamic and challenging PFAS regulatory landscape, anyone who is involved in food safety testing needs a trusted partner that can provide them with reliable, accurate and compliant testing solutions to help meet those regulations and ensure product safety.

Our PFAS testing services for the food industry

A world leader in testing, ALS has been providing PFAS sample testing and analysis services for over two decades across every type of sample, from food and packaging to soil, water and air. Our work at the forefront of PFAS testing gives us a legacy of knowledge and expertise that offers our clients confidence in our ability to provide fast turnaround times and highly accurate results. Constantly staying on top of the latest developments on PFAS has enabled us to scale up in anticipation of new regulations, standardise practices at our globally unrivaled network of PFAS labs, and keep our clients informed about the regional food supply chain regulations that impact them.

To address the increasing regulation of various foods for PFAS contamination, ALS uses a variety of state-of-the-art testing technologies, such as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), to detect PFAS in regulated matrices. Our European services offer compliance with all EU regulations and leverage our global lab network to share experiences and expertise across geographic regions.

How ALS helps you stay on top of regulatory compliance for PFAS in food

• Identify the most relevant PFAS compounds to test for in your specific supply chain and provide the ideal testing strategy for your needs

• Strengthen your in-house resources to achieve regulatory compliance for PFAS in food more effectively

• Manage risks associated with PFAS contamination that can occur at any stage—from raw materials to final food packaging

• Help manage the potential reputational risks of contamination and consumer backlash.

Whether you manufacture, process, regulate, test or market food products, ALS has the expertise, experience, technical capabilities and global reach to empower you to confidently meet the challenges of the complex PFAS regulatory landscape and enable you to ensure food safety and compliance.

Talk to us about your needs, concerns and questions. Ask about our full-service food testing and analysis services, as well as affordable screening options. We know what you’re up against, and we are ready to help you meet the challenges ahead.

_{About ALS Limited
A global leader in testing, ALS provides comprehensive testing solutions to clients in a wide range of industries around the world. Using state-of-the-art technologies and innovative methodologies, our dedicated international teams deliver highest-quality testing services and personalized solutions supported by local expertise. We help our clients leverage the power of data-driven insights for a safer and healthier world.}