FDA Announces Availability of Testing Method for PFAS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on October 31, 2019, that it is making available a scientifically validated method for testing 16 types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a variety of food groups. The validated method establishes a method detection limit (MDL) for each food group tested.

FDA also announced the final results from its food sample testing in three surveys that were released in June. The final results show a reduced number of positive samples compared to the Agency’s initial results. FDA explains that the reductions “stem in part from the application of the newly established MDL, the level at which PFAS can be reliably measured over repeated testing.” The concentrations that were below the MDL were no longer reported as having detectable levels of PFAS. An announcement on the new testing method for PFAS in foods can be found on FDA’s website.