Date: Jul 04, 2025
A peer-reviewed study has added more fuel to the fire around PFAS contamination, and this time, the focus isn’t on drinking water or industrial waste.
It’s on your breakfast plate.
Researchers from Dartmouth College analysed blood and breast milk samples from over 3,000 pregnant women and found clear links between certain foods and elevated PFAS levels.
Most notably? Coffee, white rice, eggs, seafood, and red meat.
For public health professionals and regulators, it’s a wake-up call. For product manufacturers, farmers, and food brands, it’s a compliance and reputation issue.
And for analytical labs like Leeder Analytical, it confirms what we’ve long suspected: PFAS exposure is more pervasive and complex than current regulations account for.
What You Need to Know
New findings from a large-scale study of pregnant women have revealed just how easily PFAS chemicals can enter our bodies through the food we eat. Key takeaways include:
- People who ate more white rice, eggs, seafood and coffee had higher levels of PFAS in their blood and breast milk
- Red meat consumption was linked to elevated levels of PFOS, one of the most harmful PFAS compounds
- PFAS exposure was widespread, even among people with no known industrial exposure
- The study confirms that common foods can be a major source of PFAS contamination
It’s a wake-up call for anyone who cares about what’s on their plate. Read on to find out what it means, what’s being done, and how to stay ahead of emerging risks.
PFAS Exposure Isn’t Just About Water Anymore
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. They’ve been in use since the 1940s in everything from non-stick pans and fire-fighting foams to food packaging, waterproof textiles, and cosmetics.
They’re called forever chemicals for a reason: they don’t break down naturally, accumulate in the environment, and build up in our bodies over time.
Studies have linked PFAS to:
- Certain cancers
- Thyroid and liver disease
- Birth defects and developmental delays
- Hormonal and immune system disruption
- Reduced fertility and sperm counts
While efforts to regulate PFAS in drinking water are growing globally (including Australia’s national ban on key PFAS from July 2025), this latest research reveals just how deeply these substances have infiltrated the food chain.
What the Study Found
The study tracked dietary habits alongside PFAS concentrations in plasma and breast milk. Key findings included:
- Coffee drinkers had higher PFAS levels, potentially due to contaminated beans, brewing water, or even filters and takeaway cups, which can contain PFAS coatings.
- White rice consumers showed elevated levels, possibly due to PFAS in agricultural water or soil.
- Eggs (especially from backyard chickens) were linked to higher exposure, likely due to soil contamination or feed.
- Seafood remains one of the most common PFAS exposure routes, as the ocean is a known PFAS sink.
- Red meat was also associated with PFOS, one of the most persistent and harmful PFAS compounds, likely through contaminated pastures or biosolid fertilisers.
This aligns with earlier evidence showing biosolid use on farmland as a major contributor to PFAS in animal feed, which then travels up the food chain.
Lead researcher Megan Romano said the results raised alarm bells over the current lack of PFAS testing throughout the food chain, with the figures pointing toward “the need for environmental stewardship, and keeping PFAS out of the environment and food chain”.
Why This Matters for Industry
For businesses involved in food production, packaging, agriculture, or environmental monitoring, this isn’t just a public health issue – it’s an operational and regulatory risk.
Food regulators have traditionally focused on drinking water limits, but this new evidence suggests food may be the primary route of PFAS exposure for most people.
Yet food-focused PFAS regulations remain patchy, and testing methods can vary significantly between countries and labs.
In the U.S., the FDA has faced criticism for changing PFAS testing methods in ways that some claim underreport contamination.
In Australia, the recent nationwide PFAS ban signals that food chain contamination will likely become a growing focus in the years ahead.
What’s Next for Food Safety and Testing?
As calls grow for a global ban on PFAS (outside of essential uses), research like this reinforces the importance of early detection and transparent testing.
Here are some key takeaways for businesses and regulators:
- Don’t assume your products are PFAS-free just because you don’t use the chemicals directly. Contamination can occur through water, soil, packaging, processing equipment, or feed.
- Testing is the only way to know for sure. Relying on outdated assumptions or inadequate testing methods can leave gaps in compliance and trust.
- Stay ahead of regulation. Australia’s new PFAS ban is likely just the beginning. Being proactive now can reduce liability and costs down the line.
- Consider full-spectrum PFAS profiling. Emerging compounds aren’t always listed on standard PFAS panels. Our Orbitrap-based analysis helps you see the full picture.
How Leeder Analytical Can Help
At Leeder Analytical, we’ve been monitoring PFAS contamination and helping clients stay ahead of evolving risks for years.
Our Melbourne-based, NATA-accredited laboratory specialises in PFAS analysis using high-resolution Orbitrap LC-MS instrumentation. This technology enables us to:
- Detect PFAS compounds at ultra-trace levels
- Identify both targeted (known) and emerging (unknown) PFAS
- Analyse diverse sample types including food, water, soil, sludge, textiles, packaging and more
- Provide clear reporting aligned with local and international regulatory benchmarks
Whether you’re a food producer, water utility, environmental consultant, or government agency, our PFAS profiling can help you pinpoint contamination sources, assess risk, and make confident decisions about remediation or compliance.
Ready to Take Action?
If you’re in food, packaging, water, or agriculture and want to understand your PFAS risk (or you need reliable, ultra-sensitive testing to support product development or compliance), we’re here to help.
Call: +61 3 9481 4167
Email: enquiries@leeder-analytical.com.au
