PFAS contamination and its rising toll on food security: A hidden global threat
By Chinemerem Ruth Ohoro, and Veronica M. Ngole-Jeme
Food Control
August 11, 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2025.111611
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely used in consumer products and various industries, have raised concerns due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity, and widespread environmental presence. Soil and groundwater contamination with these substances presents remediation challenges particularly as industrial and agricultural growth has led to increased PFAS use in mass food production and preservation to meet rising food demand. Without proper monitoring and regulation of food production, PFAS contamination threatens food security, undermining Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) which addresses hunger. Despite growing research on PFAS, comprehensive reports on their implications for food security including crop yields, livestock safety, and disruptions to fisheries and aquaculture are scarce. This paper reviews the impacts of PFAS pollution on food quality and safety and presents potential health risks associated with chronic dietary exposure to these substances. It also discusses mitigation strategies and alternative packaging approaches to safeguarding ecosystems. By integrating existing data and identifying research gaps, this review highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions to protect food systems and ensure global food security. It also emphasizes revising global policies to reduce PFAS contamination in food production. Future research focus areas are highlighted at the end of the review.
Topics: