The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) provides an abundance of information they have collected on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Here is what the FDA says about PFAS:
- PFAS can cause “serious health conditions.”
- PFAS can contaminate our nation’s food chain supply through the environment, such as the groundwater and soil.
- FDA scientists are developing testing methods to study low levels of PFAS in foods.
PFAS have been linked to various adverse health effects when consumed at high levels. Health effects from PFAS, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can include:
- Cancer (bladder, blood, kidney, liver, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, thyroid)
- Low birth weights
- Preeclampsia
- Thyroid (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s, Grave’s, Goiter, thyroid nodules)
- Ulcerative colitis
What the FDA Says About PFAS in Food
The FDA is reportedly addressing PFAS contamination in food in several ways. First, the FDA tests for PFAS in the “general food supply” while also providing PFAS consultations to states. This is used when states are concerned about local areas that are near contamination sites or facilities that use or manufacture PFAS chemicals.
The FDA says you should not actively avoid a particular type of food because it could contain PFAS. The FDA goes on to suggest that foods located near PFAS contamination sites “may or may not” pose a threat to human safety.
According to the FDA, food grown or produced in areas where PFAS contamination sites have been reported does not always have dangerous—or even traceable—amounts of PFAS. That is because of many factors, such as the type of PFAS chemicals (mainly PFOA or PFOS) that can contaminate food and how high the exposure levels are.
In December 2019, the FDA released results from the second round of testing for 16 types of PFAS chemicals. The results state that out of 88 tested food groups, only one group (tilapia) contained PFAS chemicals.
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
Across the country, PFAS litigation settlements have been reached when major companies are found liable for contamination into the environment. You might qualify to file a PFAS lawsuit if you believed an illness is related to PFAS exposure. Contact your doctor to see if they can connect your illness to PFAS.
You might also be able to join an existing PFAS class action lawsuit, where multiple people with similar illnesses or experiences file a lawsuit against a defendant. In these lawsuits, one person represents the class, and each plaintiff splits the settlement.
If you or a loved one has experienced health effects from PFAS-related contamination, you may be entitled to compensation for your expenses. At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our lawyers are ready to help lead you on your path to recovery when major companies are responsible for your PFAS contamination damages.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 788-4155 to reach a member of our team. We can conduct a free, no-obligation case evaluation. You owe us nothing up front, as we work on a contingency basis. This means we will take our cut out of the settlement.