PFAS in Fruits & Vegetables

Forever chemicals are being detected in all types of everyday items from packaging to cookware to rain jackets and now food. A new Environmental Working Group report detected PFAS forever chemicals in 37% of conventionally grown produce. The testing uncovered 17 different PFAS residues on over 40 kinds of fruits and vegetables.

Nectarines, peaches, and plums tested for the highest contamination rates while cherries, strawberries, and grapes samples contained several types of PFAS. The study traced the forever chemical residues to the pesticides used, which legally permit PFAS. The EPA not only permits the chemicals, they approved over a dozen new pesticides with the forever chemicals Isocycloseram and Cyclobutrifluram last November.

The EPA believes that despite risks to reproductive, liver, and thyroid health, the chemicals are not PFAS because they are single-fluorinated and short-chained. State health agencies and the scientific community as a whole, consider both single and double-fluorinated atoms to be forever chemicals. The short-chain PFAS approved by the EPA can both persist in the environment and break down into trifluoroacetic acid, or TFA, which is one of the most widespread contaminants in water that may damage reproductive, immune, and liver health.

PFAS are also being detected in fruits, vegetables, and soil across the country because of treated human waste. The USDA has been promoting biosolids, organic matter extracted from treated public sewage, as a cost-effective fertilization strategy for decades. Biosolid production largely isn’t handled by municipalities, it’s controlled by Synagro, which is owned by Goldman Sachs. The company has been actively lobbying for liability immunity and to water down state efforts that seek to curb biosolid use.

Its nearly impossible to avoid all forever chemicals so don’t stress about it. The recent testing isn’t a surprise, it confirms what we already knew. There are easy steps you can take to lower PFAS exposure.

• Don’t use non-stick cookware of any kind. Even if it advertises as PFAS free, it probably still contains short-chain PFAS.

• Try to avoid single-use food packaging in to-go containers.

• Avoid water-proof or stain resistant furniture in your house.

• Switch to PFAS free silk or satin dental floss.

• Buy organic produce when possible and wash it in a water and baking soda bath.

• Avoid water-proof and long-wear make-up, particularly mascara.

• Invest in a reverse osmosis or activated carbon + ion exchange resin water filter.

Countertop reverse osmosis filter - Most convenient. More expensive. Easy to install and move. You can use code matthew for 30% off.

Under-sink reverse osmosis filter - Less expensive. Harder to install. Takes up the least amount of space. You can use code matthew for 30% off.

The least-expensive and easiest option is a pitcher with activated carbon and ion exchange resin filters. I use the glass Life-straw pitcher (I don’t have a code here). The pitcher reduces lead, mercury, and chemicals including PFAS, chlorine, microplastics, herbicides, pesticides, dirt, sand, and cloudiness.

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