USA: FDA refuses entry of processed clams due to high PFAS concentrations

The FDA has stopped three shipments of canned clams from entering the U.S. due to high levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a harmful substance. The most contaminated sample was Tri-Union/Chicken of the Sea clams, with a PFOA level of 25.2 parts per billion (ppb). The FDA is investigating the potential health risks of PFAS in food, particularly in bivalves like clams, as they have the ability to bioaccumulate these substances. Currently, the FDA does not have a regulatory limit for PFAS in food and is still evaluating its approach. This action follows a 2022 policy change where products with excessive PFAS levels can be subjected to import alerts and detentions.

The FDA refused entry of three shipments of canned clams into the U.S. after finding high concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a type of polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS).According to testing from the FDA, canned clams from Tri-Union/Chicken of the Sea, Crown Prince, and Kawasho Foods’ Geisha brand showed high levels of PFOA. In FDA testing of 12 processed clam samples in September and October, it found the three highest concentrations of PFOA were 6.02 parts per billion (ppb) in the sample of Geisha clams, 6.59 ppb in Crown Prince clams, and 25.2 ppb in Tri-Union/Chicken of the Sea clams.Additionally, there were “a broad range of detectable levels” of at least one type of PFAS in all samples, and PFOA was also detected in every sample, the FDA said in an update on its PFAS web page.Currently, the EPA has health advisories about the level of PFAS in drinking water, with healthy guidance hovering around concentrations of 0.004 parts per trillion. The FDA is studying ...