A recent report by the Pesticides Action Network (PAN Europe) and other environmental NGOs has uncovered alarming levels of a harmful chemical in wines across the European Union, including organic varieties. The report, which focused on the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) – a compound within the PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) family – has sparked intense discussions about the causes of contamination and calls for stricter regulations on these substances.
The report revealed that some wines contained TFA concentrations up to 100 times higher than the European Union’s strictest drinking water standards. TFA is commonly used in a range of products, including pesticides, due to its water-repellent properties. Known for its extreme persistence in the environment, TFA is considered a significant health risk.
“This is a wake-up call,” said Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, an environmental chemist at Global 2000, one of the organizations behind the research. “TFA is a permanent chemical and will not go away.”
The study analyzed 49 wines, comparing modern varieties with older vintages. The results showed no detectable residues in wines produced before 1988, but a sharp increase in TFA levels since 2010. “For no other agricultural product are the harvests from past decades so readily available and well-preserved,” the report noted.
PAN Europe attributes the rise in TFA levels to the increasing use of PFAS-based pesticides in agriculture, suggesting a direct correlation between the two.
Controversy and Industry Pushback
The findings have caused a stir, particularly in Austria, where nearly a quarter of vineyards use organic farming methods. Out of the 49 wines tested, 18 were Austrian. However, the Austrian Wine Growers Association dismissed the report as “not meaningful” and questioned the representativeness of the study. “We are opposed to the wine industry being put under the spotlight based on a few analyses of substances that can be detected in many products due to environmental influences,” the association stated.
Similarly, the Committee of Wine Companies (CEEV), representing the wine industry, criticized the study’s methodology. CEEV argued that the research did not account for a balanced sample of countries, wine ages, grape varieties, or organic versus conventional wines. The organization also pointed out that the report found no significant difference in TFA levels between organic and conventional wines, calling into question the link between pesticide use and TFA contamination.
Growing Pressure in the EU
The report has further fueled calls within the European Parliament to ban PFAS pesticides. Last month, 50 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) signed a letter urging the European Commission to take stronger action against these harmful chemicals. During an environment committee meeting on Thursday, Green MEPs confronted Commission representatives with the findings.
“The wine drinkers are ingesting more PFAS in a glass of wine than is allowed in drinking water,” said MEP Jutta Paulus. Martin Häusling, another Green MEP, echoed the call for PFAS pesticides to be removed from the market, emphasizing that alternatives are available.
In response, European Commission officials shifted responsibility to individual member states, noting that many had resisted the Commission’s proposal to halt the renewal of certain PFAS pesticides. While a limited agreement was reached on banning two substances, Commission representatives suggested that further action could be taken at the national level under existing EU legislation.
As pressure mounts, the debate over PFAS contamination in wine is likely to continue, with calls for more robust regulations and greater transparency in the agricultural industry.
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