The FDA Issues Request for Information on PFAS in Seafood

November 19, 2024

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"Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a request for information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seafood. The FDA is seeking scientific data and information from the seafood industry, academia, state and federal agencies, as well as other interested entities, on PFAS concentrations in seafood, the surrounding environment, and processing water, as well as mitigation strategies for reducing exposure to PFAS in seafood. This request is part of our continued work to increase our understanding of the potential for PFAS exposure from seafood and to reduce dietary exposure to PFAS that may pose a health concern.

The FDA collects samples and tests for PFAS in the general food supply in a number of ways, including through the FDA’s Total Diet Study (TDS), which we have used since 2019. Our testing indicates that seafood may be at higher risk for environmental PFAS contamination compared with other types of foods. In 2021 and 2022, to expand on the results from the TDS samples and evaluate potential exposure to PFAS from other seafood types, the FDA collected additional seafood samples and conducted surveys targeting the most commonly consumed seafood in the United States. However, the data on PFAS in seafood are still limited for many other seafood types."