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Biodegradable products like paper straws are often seen as ecofriendly, but the article reveals they often contain PFAs, which are added for water and grease resistance. When discarded, these items can leach PFAS into the environment, especially in landfills or composting systems not equipped to handle synthetic chemicals. These substances then make their way into soil and water, where they resist degradation. According to the have been detected in drinking water, private wells, and wildlife, including fish and mammals. Because PFAS are bioaccumulative, animals exposed through contaminated water and food sources can retain them in their tissues over time. This leads to widespread ecological contamination and poses risks to both animal and human health via the food chain.

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Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS | US EPA

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Learn about EPA’s current understanding of the health risks of PFAS.

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PFAS are highly resistant to chemical, thermal, and biological degradation, which is why they’re used in food psckaging and plant-based materials like paper straws. While the base material like paper or bamboo may degrade naturally, but the PFAS coating can linger, effectively hindering full decomposition. The Food and Wine article highlights that even so-called bioderadable straws still carry PFAS, making them less environmentally friendly than advertised. The bioremediation of pfas review explains that these compounds do not easily break down due to their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, leading to prolonged environmental persistence. When biodegradable products containing PFAS enter composting or soil systems, they may fragment physically but continue to release PFAS over time. This results in sustaied chemical contamination long after the product appears decomposed. Thus, PFAS not only undermine the integrity of biodegradable labeling but also contribute to hidden, long-lasting pollution. The presence of PFAS in these materials calls into question the true sustainability of many compostable products

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A Study Says Paper Straws Aren’t as Eco-Friendly as You Think

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One study out of the University of Antwerp in Belgium showed that paper straws — as well as those made of glass and bamboo — are coated in PFAS, aka “forever chemicals.” Here’s what to use instead.

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The FDA has worked with manufacturers to voluntarily phase out specific PFAS used in food packaging, especially grease-proofing agents. In 2024 these substances are no longer being sold for use in U.S. food contact products, which marks a significant regulatory milestone. This move reduces a major source of dietary PFAS exposure, particularly from fasfood wrappers, pizza boxes, and microwave popcorn bags. Simultaneously, the EPA designated PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, enabling stronger enforcement and cleanup initiatives. These regulatory actions show a shift toward precautionary principles, prioritizing consumer safety and environmental protection. Removing PFAS from the consumer product stream could lower exposure risks across the board, especially in low income communities where PFAS contamination tends to be more severe. Over time, this could lead to fewer PFAS related illnesses and reduce bioaccumulation in both humans and wildlife. Stronger legislative oversight also pushes industries to innovate PFASfree alternatives that align with sustainable goals.

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Although PFAS have been in use for more than 80 years, scientific understanding and technical instrumentation needed to test for PFAS at very low concentrations in food only began in the last 5 years. The FDA has been leading the science in developing validated methods for testing for PFAS in increasingly diverse types of foods. We are testing for extremely low levels of these chemicals-in the parts per trillion. We have extended our testing method to increase the number of PFAS that we can test for, informed by scientific literature, and select PFAS based on their expected uptake by foods and the availability of the chemical standards to accurately identify their presence.

The FDA is also expanding our research effort by using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). This will allow us to determine which additional types of PFAS, beyond those we are specifically testing for with the current method, are present in foods and should be included in targeted methods going forward.

Most of our testing of the general food supply is of samples collected for the Total Diet Study (TDS). No PFAS have been detected in over 97% (785 out of 810) of the fresh and processed foods tested from the TDS. At least one type of PFAS was detected in 51% (19 out of 37) of the TDS seafood samples and in 74% (60 out of 81) of the samples from our 2022 targeted seafood survey. We are planning an additional targeted seafood survey in 2024.

For the samples where PFAS is detected, the FDA assess each type of PFAS for which there are toxicological reference values (TRVs). There are currently eight PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA ⌈GenX⌉, PFBS, PFBA, and PFHxA) for which there are toxicological reference values that are used to assess the potential human health concern for levels found in food due to environmental contamination. Currently, the FDA evaluates these PFAS individually in food samples; however, we are exploring approaches for evaluating samples with multiple PFAS detected. As the science continues to evolve on establishing additional TRVs and on cumulative exposure assessments, our conclusions related to the potential human health concerns for certain levels of PFAS found in food may change.

For more information on our testing method and approach to assessing dietary exposure and for results from our recent sampling, please see:

The FDA has authorized certain PFAS for use in specific food contact applications. Some PFAS are used in cookware, food packaging, and in food processing for their non-stick and grease, oil, and water-resistant properties. To ensure food contact substances are safe for their intended use, the FDA conducts a rigorous review of scientific data prior to their authorization for market entry. The FDA's authorization of a food contact substance requires that available data and information demonstrate that there is a reasonable certainty of no harm under the intended conditions of use.

The FDA reviews new scientific information on the authorized uses of food contact substances to ensure that these uses continue to be safe. When the FDA identifies potential safety concerns, the agency ensures that these concerns are addressed or that these substances are no longer used in food contact applications. For example, in 2020, in response to the FDA's post-market scientific review and analysis of data raising potential safety concerns about the toxicity of food contact substances containing short-chain PFAS with 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH), three manufacturers committed to a 3-year market phase-out of these substances and to cease all sales of these substances in the U.S. market by December 31, 2023. In February 2024, the FDA announced that grease-proofing substances containing PFAS are no longer being sold by manufacturers for food contact use in the U.S. market. The completion of the voluntary market phase-out of these substances used on food packaging paper and paperboard, eliminates the primary source of dietary exposure to PFAS from authorized food contact uses.

For more information on how the FDA regulates PFAS used in food contact applications and the market phase-out and withdrawals of certain PFAS, including annual updates from manufacturers, please see:

State Collaboration

The FDA works with states to identify and assess the safety of locally grown and produced foods from areas with known PFAS contamination. This support occurs at the request of the states and generally takes the form of assistance with analytical testing, method development, and safety assessment consultations. The FDA has provided on-going assistance to states in their assessment of several different kinds of foods including crops for human and animal food, and animal derived foods. As appropriate to the food type, this consultation may be provided in conjunction with other federal agencies.

In addition, as part of our technical assistance to states, the FDA is contributing to research to understand how PFAS is taken up by plants, and how PFAS concentrations vary between plants and parts of a plant. This is an area of research that may help us make significant reductions in PFAS exposure from food. For example, by studying PFAS uptake, researchers may help identify plants that can be safely grown in contaminated soil without PFAS uptake to the edible portion of the plant.

Federal Collaboration

The FDA has joined the government-wide approach led by the White House to further advance progress on securing clean air, safe food, and clean drinking water. Through this collaboration with other federal agencies, we will work to identify routes of PFAS exposure, understand associated health risks, and reduce the public's dietary exposure to PFAS that may pose a health risk.

For more information on the federal government's approach for reducing exposure to PFAS, please see:

What Are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals that resist grease, oil, water, and heat. They were first used in the 1940's and are now in hundreds of products including stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints, and fire-fighting foams. Certain PFAS are also authorized by the FDA for limited use in cookware, food packaging, and food processing equipment.

Chemically, individual PFAS can be very different. However, all have a carbon-fluorine bond, which is very strong and therefore, they do not degrade easily.

The widespread use of PFAS and their persistence in the environment means that PFAS from past and current uses have resulted in increasing levels of contamination of the air, water, and soil.

Accumulation of certain PFAS has also been shown through blood tests to occur in humans and animals. While the science surrounding potential health effects of bioaccumulation is developing, exposure to some types of PFAS have been associated with serious health effects.

Regulated Product(s)

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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of human-made chemicals that are found in a wide range of products used by consumers and industry.

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PFAS in food packaging can migrate into the food and beverages they contain, especially when exposed to heat or oils. The FDA article confirms that PFAS have been found in items like takeout containers, wrappers, and cookware coatings. These chemicals can transfer into hot or greasy foods, posing a direct ingestion route for humans. The EPA adds that chronic exposure to PFAS through contaminated water and food may result in health issues such as liver damage, immune system suppression, certain cancers, and hormonal interference. low level ling term exposure is particularly concerning, as PFAS accumulate in the human body over time. The Food and Wine article explajns how straws made with PFAS could potentially release these substances into beverages, especially when used regularly. Vulnerable populations of  individuals with compromised immune systems face higher risks. These findings underline the urgency of eliminating PFAS from all food contact materials to safeguard longterm public health.

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Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS | US EPA

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Learn about EPA’s current understanding of the health risks of PFAS.

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Question 5 https://smartenergy.illinois.edu/choose-pfas-free-a-commitment-to-food-customer-safety/

As consumers grow more ecoconscious, they increasingly seek out products marketed as biodegradable or sustainable but awareness of PFAS in these items can erode that trust. The Smart Energy Illinois article stresses that customers expect PFASfree packaging to align with their health and environmental values. Discovering PFAs in paper straws or compostable containers shown in the the Food and Wine article can lead to consumer backlash against greenwashing. Businesses that are transparent about PFASfree practices and use thirdparty cerifications are more likely to retain customer loyalty. Educated consumers may also influence supply chains by demanding safer, PFAS free alternatives from manufacturers and restaurants. This shift can reward businesses that proactivel adopt cleaner materials while discouraging misleading environmental claims. Greater awareness thus becomes a powerful tool for marke change, driving industry and policy toward genuine sustainability.