PAN Europe Report on Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) in Cereal Products
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a very small, highly persistent chemical — the simplest perfluorinated carboxylic acid (PFCA) — and is classified within the broader family of PFAS according to the OECD definition (2021). It is formed as a degradation product of various “PFAS pesticides” and fluorinated gases (F-gases) used in refrigeration technology. TFA is highly mobile in water, and aquatic environments such as groundwater and surface water often act as its final sink. From these sources, TFA can enter the food chain and drinking water. In plants, additional exposure routes may include precipitation, direct deposition, and pesticide transformation. Previous studies by PAN (Pesticide Action Network) Europe and other organizations including Eurofins, have documented the presence of TFA in drinking water (tap and bottled), surface water, and groundwater. Earlier this year (2025), PAN member organization Global 2000 published a widely noted report on TFA in wine, followed by another on Austrian cereal products.
New PAN Europe Report on TFA
According to PAN, TFA represents a regulatory blind spot and is therefore an “unseen and unregulated” chemical in many parts of the food supply. To date, few EU-wide assessments have examined TFA levels in staple foods. In its new publication (December 2025) — Unseen and Unregulated: TFA, the ‘Forever Chemical’ in Europe’s Cereals — PAN conducted a study on TFA in conventional cereal-based food products across the EU. In total, 66 cereal products (including breakfast cereals, bread, pasta, flour, etc.) were analyzed, and TFA was detected in 82% of samples (54 out of 66). The average concentration across all samples was 79 µg/kg, with a median of 40 µg/kg; however, some samples contained much higher levels, up to 360 µg/kg. Wheat-based products (bread, pasta, breakfast cereals) tended to show higher contamination compared to products made from other grains. Currently, TFA is not regulated with specific maximum residue limits (MRLs) in food. Nevertheless, most analyzed samples exceeded the default MRL of 10 µg/kg proposed by PAN for substances classified as reprotoxic or hormone-disrupting. These findings indicate that food — not only water — may represent a major pathway for human exposure to TFA.
Testing for TFA and Ultrashort PFAS in Food
Eurofins offers a dedicated analytical service for detecting TFA and other ultrashort-chain PFAS (USC PFAS) in various foods and plants, including cereals, fruits, vegetables, milk, and non-woody plants.
The method has a reporting limit (limit of quantification, LOQ) for TFA of 10 µg/kg; for other ultrashort PFAS substances (such as PFPrA, PFEtS, etc.), the LOQ ranges from 0.1 to 1 µg/kg. Optimal sample weight is 100 g, with a minimum of 20 g, and sample preparation (LPP02) is typically required. Delivery time (TAT) is 14 calendar days upon arrival at the laboratory. Packages for TFA and four USC PFAS (including TFA) are available.
| Fruit, vegetables and non-woody plants | Analytes | Package code |
| TFA (Trifluoroacetic acid) in food | TFA | PLWCJ |
| Ultrashort PFAS in food | TFA, TFMS, PFPrA, PFEtS | PLWCK |
For PFPrS analysis, please refer to our regular PFAS testing packages, such as PLW8H.
For inquiries regarding PFAS, please contact us
Eurofins Food & Feed: https://www.eurofins.se/kontakta-oss/kontakt-livsmedel/