Testing services / Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food (broad scope)

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food (broad scope)

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that certain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS, can cause adverse effects on serum cholesterol, the liver and the immune system, and birth weight.

To minimize human exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances through the diet, the European Union has set limits on PFAS concentrations in several types of food. In Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food, maximum levels for perfluoroalkyl substances have been set for:

Eggs
Fishery products
Meat and edible offal

This PFAS testing package includes the analysis of the following substances, for which maximum levels are set in EU legislation:

Compound	Abbreviation	CAS number
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid	PFOS	2795-39-3
Perfluorooctanoic acid	PFOA	335-67-1
Perfluorononanoic acid	PFNA	375-95-1
Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid	PFHxS	3871-99-6

In addition to regulated substances, in the broader scope approach, the following PFAS are also included:

Compound	Abbreviation	CAS number
Perfluoropentanoic acid	PFPeA	2706-90-3
Perfluorohexanoic acid	PFHxA	307-24-4
Perfluoroheptanoic acid	PFHpA	375-85-9
Perfluorodecanoic acid	PFDA	335-76-2
Perfluoroundecanoic acid	PFUnDA	2058-94-8
Perfluorododecanoic acid	PFDoDA	307-55-1
Perfluorotridecanoic acid	PFTrDA	72629-94-8
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid	PFTeDA	376-06-7
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid	PFBS	375-73-5
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid	PFHpS	375-92-8
Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid	PFDeS	335-77-3
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid	PFPeS	2706-91-4
Perfluorononanesulfonic acid	PFNS	68259-12-1
Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid	PFDoS	79780-39-5

More information about the method:

LC-MS/MS analysis

Suitable sample matrices: Meat and meat products, fishery products, eggs and egg products
Required sample quantity: 200 g
Detection limit: LOQ 0.1 µg/kg per substance; LOQ 0.1 µg/kg sum of PFAS (the reporting limit might vary depending on the sample matrix)
Available quality systems: Accredited test method
Device types: LC-MS-MS
Method expert: Meeri Rantanen