The family of substances called “per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances“, also known as “PFAS“, has caused considerable controversies time and time again. Among them, the substances perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are particularly well known as the most common representatives of the group. The PFAS substance group comprises several thousand individual substances.

Originally prized for their strong water-, oil- and stain-repellent properties for a variety of industrial applications, these industrially produced, non-naturally occurring substances have come under criticism for their potential health and ecological effects on humans, animals, and the environment.

Therefore, it is important for you and your company to know that this family of substances has attracted the attention of the European Union. According to the European chemicals regulation REACH, some PFAS are already considered substances of very high concern (SVHC). The individual substances in the PFAS group are therefore appearing more and more frequently in the lists of official regulations. The use of some of these substances in industrial production has even been outright banned altogether or are severely limited above a certain maximum level in the EU area. Accordingly, you should have your supply chains investigated for PFAS contaminations now.

A new proposal for stricter monitoring of PFAS in food is currently being discussed at EU level. Foods such as “fruits, vegetables, starchy roots and tubers, cereals, nuts, food for infants and young children, food of animal origin, non-alcoholic drinks as well as wine and beer” are to be monitored more closely for PFAS contamination in the future.

Currently, GALAB is the only analytical laboratory that can offer you a very low reporting limit of 0.01 µg/kg for PFAS. In low-fat foods and raw materials such as fruits and vegetables, we achieve a limit of quantification of up to 0.001 µg/kg.* Our R&D department is developing further sensitivities of the method on a daily basis. Thus, we are continuously working to reduce the limit of quantification further and further. We offer a full range of analytical parameters to exclude unwanted PFAS substances, so you can be sure now what tomorrow will bring.

Whether in the food sector, such as baby food, organic food, or complementary food, in the consumer goods sector or in sectors such as environmental contamination – GALAB can support you with top services.

For more information, please contact us:

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+49 40 36 80 77 0