European wines show sharp rise in forever chemical contamination linked to PFAS pesticides

A recent analysis by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe) has found that European wines are increasingly contaminated with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a persistent pollutant known as a “forever chemical.” The study, published Wednesday, examined around fifty bottles of red, white, and rosé wines from ten European Union countries, including France, Italy, Spain, and Austria. The results show a sharp rise in TFA concentrations in wine since 2010.

TFA is a breakdown product of other fluorinated compounds known as PFAS. These chemicals are widely used in industry and agriculture for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. While some PFAS are already banned in the EU due to health concerns, TFA remains unregulated because its health effects are not yet fully understood. However, it is suspected to be toxic.

The analysis found no trace of TFA in ten vintages produced before 1988. In contrast, all 39 wines produced after that year contained measurable levels of TFA. Wines from vintages between 1988 and 2010 showed a moderate increase in contamination, with concentrations rising from 13 micrograms per liter to 21 micrograms per liter. The situation worsened for wines produced between 2010 and 2015, where average TFA levels reached 40 micrograms per liter.

The most recent samples, from vintages between 2021 and 2024, revealed an average TFA concentration of 122 micrograms per liter. According to Générations Futures, a French environmental group involved in the study, this level is about one hundred times higher than the concentrations considered concerning in surface water and drinking water.

Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, an environmental chemist and lead author of the study, said that people are likely ingesting much more TFA through food than previously thought. The study also found that wines with higher TFA concentrations tended to contain more synthetic pesticide residues. This suggests a link between the use of PFAS-based pesticides and elevated TFA levels in wine.

The findings have prompted calls from environmental groups for an immediate ban on PFAS pesticides and fluorinated gases. The issue is gaining urgency as EU member states prepare to vote in mid-May on a proposal from the European Commission to ban flutolanil, a PFAS pesticide known to release TFA into the environment.

Salomé Roynel of PAN Europe described the study’s conclusions as a clear warning signal. Environmental organizations argue that stricter regulations are needed to protect both consumers and ecosystems from these persistent pollutants. The debate over PFAS use in agriculture continues as new evidence emerges about their presence in everyday products like wine.