A recent investigation conducted by the Pesticide Action Network Europe has uncovered traces of the ‘forever chemical’ trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in nearly 50 European wines, raising significant concerns about the implications for public health and environmental safety.
The study detected varying levels of TFA in wines from different countries, with PAN Europe policy officer Salome Roynel stating that the findings serve as a "clear wake-up call for the EU" as there is burgeoning regulatory scrutiny regarding TFA’s impact on the food chain and overall environment.
TFA is a breakdown product of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can be emitted from certain pesticides as well as F-gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. While previously thought to pose minimal health risks, TFA has recently been linked to potential reproductive health issues, prompting the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to review its health-based reference values.
The wine industry body CEEV acknowledged the limitations of the PAN Europe study’s sample size. Nonetheless, they recognized that the presence of TFA in the environment is a serious concern and reflected their willingness to engage in discussions about this issue.
The investigation revealed that some of the tested wines contained TFA levels surpassing those previously recorded in drinking water and other environmental samples. PAN Europe’s examination included ten Austrian wines from vintages between 1974 and 2015, discovering no traces of TFA in bottles from before 1988.
Additionally, the study evaluated 39 wines from various European countries produced between 2021 and 2024, revealing average TFA levels of 122 micrograms per liter. The report suggested a possible correlation between pesticide residue levels in some wines and higher TFA trace amounts, although this connection was met with skepticism from CEEV.
Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, an environmental chemist involved in the research, indicated that the findings suggest a significant intake of TFA through diet, which was previously underestimated.
The report advocated for the prohibition of PFAS pesticides and F-gases and proposed the establishment of a thorough monitoring program for TFA in food products. CEEV expressed its readiness to collaborate with EFSA for a better understanding of TFA’s toxicological impacts, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable practices and a reduction in pesticide use across the European wine sector.