High-resolution mass spectrometry for extended PFAS surveillance in food: Combining suspect and non-targeted approaches
By Cassandre Jeannot, Nicolas Macorps, Ahmed Amziane, Bruno Le Bizec, Julien Parinet, and Gaud Dervilly
Food Chemistry: X
July 29, 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2025.102843
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, potentially harmful synthetic chemicals. While they can accumulate in foodstuffs, current monitoring often targets only a few compounds, likely underestimating dietary exposure. In this study, 58 food samples from Europe and North Africa—including commercial products and items from known European contamination hotspots—were analyzed using a validated high-resolution mass spectrometry workflow combining suspect screening (SS) and non-targeted screening (NTS). Seventeen PFAS were confirmed through SS, with up to 15 different PFAS in fish samples from hotspots. While NTS revealed four additional fluorinated substances: Perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA) detected in 48 % of samples, 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS), Fipronil, and Fipronil sulfone. These results highlight the geographical variability of PFAS contamination in food and demonstrate the value of combined SS/NTS approaches in identifying both known and emerging PFAS, supporting more comprehensive, regulation-aligned risk assessments.
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