You're drinking contaminated wine
30 April 2025
You might want to take a closer look at what's in your next glass of wine. A new study by the NGO Pesticide Action Network has found that no bottle produced in Europe in recent years is free from contamination by trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a toxic byproduct of PFAS, the notorious "forever chemicals." In the grapes from the last three vintages, TFA levels were 3,000 times higher than EU groundwater limits.
The health risks are severe: PFAS compounds are linked to cancer, liver damage, and reproductive harm. TFA, once considered relatively harmless, is now suspected of causing developmental abnormalities and it lingers permanently in soil, water, and crops.
So what is being done about it? Despite mounting evidence, EU action has been slow. Under the REACH framework – Europe's main chemical regulation – PFAS were supposed to be tightly controlled years ago. But industry lobbying, lengthy scientific reviews, and political hesitancy have stalled reforms.
 | Thibault Krause While public debate often centres on PFAS in non-stick cookware and textiles, the more immediate threat lies in their use as pesticides sprayed across Europe's farmlands, embedding toxic chemicals directly into our food chain. Safer, biodegradable alternatives exist. The EU should move beyond slow, case-by-case bans and push for a full phase-out of PFAS in agriculture if it wants to protect food, water, and public health. |
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