There is growing concern about PFAS, partly due to recent reports of elevated levels in eggs from hobby chickens. PFAS can enter the food chain through various sources and accumulate in animal products. In this article, you can read what PFAS are, why they are relevant to the (animal) feed chain and what role SecureFeed plays in this.
What are PFAS?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of chemicals that are made to make products water, grease or dirt repellent. They are found in pesticides, rainwear, firefighting foam and food packaging, for example. PFAS hardly break down in the environment, which is why we also call them “forever chemicals”.
Why are PFAS a problem?
PFAS can end up in the soil, water and ultimately in our food. They accumulate in the bodies of humans and animals. Some types of PFAS (such as PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS) can be harmful to health, for example to the immune system or the liver.
How do PFAS end up in the food chain?
PFAS are widely used and are still sometimes used in all kinds of products, such as pesticides, fire-fighting foam, floor cleaners, clothing and food packaging. Because they hardly break down, they end up in the environment and spread through soil and water. This means they can eventually end up in plants, animals and our food – for example, via contaminated feed, water, air or packaging.
What does SecureFeed do?
SecureFeed conducts an inventory of PFAS, particularly in feed materials of animal origin (such as fishmeal) and in large product streams (such as cereals). In addition, SecureFeed coordinates with other chain parties on the findings of the PFAS monitoring. Questions about PFAS assurance at companies are also asked during supplier audits conducted by SecureFeed. The Specific Product Requirements (SPR) for fish products require that fish caught must come from the open sea and that the fishing areas have been tested in advance, as very high concentrations of PFAS have been reported in fish from some fishing areas.
Are there standards for PFAS?
There are standards for PFAS in food (such as eggs or milk), but not yet in (animal) feed. In 2024, the German BfR will set maximum levels for complete animal feed based on the transfer from animal feed to food of animal origin. See: de Molenaar – German maximum levels of PFAS in animal feed.
What can you do as a feed supplier?
As a company, pay close attention to the origin of raw materials, especially for products of animal origin.
You can also have products analysed for PFAS yourself. More and more laboratories are now able to perform PFAS analyses in various feed matrices. Have you had an analysis carried out? If so, it would be helpful if you could share the results with the SecureFeed secretariat. In this way, we can contribute to a better picture of PFAS in the (animal) feed chain.
Want to know more?
More information about PFAS, including transfer to animal products and analysis options, can be found in the SecureFeed Factsheet PFAS, which is available to SecureFeed participants. This factsheet, like factsheets on other topics, can be consulted on the SecureFeed website.