FDA Publishes New PFAS in Food Method Utilizing UCT QuEChERS!
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a diverse group of synthetic organofluorine compounds that have been widely used in industrial applications and consumer products such as non-stick cookware, food packaging, fire-fighting foams, carpeting, apparels and metal plating. PFASs are persistent in the environment and are extremely resistant to degradation due to heat, acids or bases. They are also bio-accumulative in humans and wildlife and are known to cause reproductive and developmental toxicity in laboratory animals and wildlife.
This application note summarizes a validated procedure developed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the measurement of 16 PFASs in food using a QuEChERS sample preparation approach and LC-MS/MS analysis. Representative food matrices tested include milk, bread, lettuce, and fish.
The agency reports that the method’s release is “an important step in furthering collaboration between the FDA and states in assessing the safety of human and animal food from specific areas potentially affected by environmental contamination”. Complete method details, including instrumental parameters and validation criteria/results, can be found on the FDA website (https://www.fda.gov/media/131510/download).
