"High levels of ‘forever chemical’ found in cereal products across Europe – study", 4 December 2025

...The most contaminated food is breakfast cereal, according to a study by Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN), with average concentrations 100 times higher than in tap water.

The study found trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a chemical produced when pesticides containing Pfas chemicals break down into the soil, in breakfast cereals, popular sweets, pasta, croissants, wholemeal and refined bread, and flour...

The study analysed 65 conventional cereal products bought across 16 European countries – the first study of its kind at the EU level. Previous reports have found high levels of TFA in wine, and some contamination of tap water. It is soluble in water, meaning it can be taken up by plants from the soil.

TFA was detected in 81.5% of samples (53 out of 65 samples) across 16 European countries, with high contamination levels. Wheat products are significantly more contaminated than other cereal-based products.

The highest levels were found in Irish breakfast cereal, followed by Belgian wholemeal bread, then German wholemeal bread, then French baguette. It was found across a huge range of products, from spaghetti, to cheese scones and ginger bread...