Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals where some (poly) or all (per) of the hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms have been replaced by fluorine atoms. PFAS have been widely used in industrial and consumer applications, such as stain-resistant coatings in fabrics and carpets, oil-resistant coatings in paper and cardboard products in contact with food, firefighting foams, floor polishes, and insecticide formulations. These chemicals are highly mobile in the environment due to their solubility in water, unlike other persistent organic pollutants.
Food contamination primarily occurs through bioaccumulation in aquatic and terrestrial food chains and the use of food contact materials containing PFAS.