As regulators target PFAS levels in drinking water, and evidence of their presence in beverages emerges, manufacturers need to pinpoint potential sources, identify any product contamination, and monitor evolving compliance obligations.
That’s according to R&D consultancy Sagentia Innovation, following the publication of a peer-reviewed study highlighting a link between PFAS contamination in municipal drinking water and its presence in beer.
The US-based research project Hold My Beer detected PFAS in most beers sampled, with some exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s Maximum Contaminant Limits. County-level correlation between total PFAS, PFOA, and PFBS concentrations in drinking water and beers was also reported.
The problem with PFAS
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are chemicals that resist grease, oil, water and heat.
First used in the 1940s, they’re now found in hundreds of products including stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints and fire-fighting foams. Certain PFAS are also authorized for use in cookware, food packaging and food processing equipment.
Their widespread use means that PFAS from past and present have resulted in increasing levels of contamination of the water, air and soil.
While research is still ongoing, health agencies note that exposure to certain PFAS may be harmful to human health: and studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, increased risk of cancer, and interference with the body’s hormones.
Since 2019, the FDA has ramped up testing for PFAS in water and the general food supply. If the agency finds that the level of PFAS creates a health concern, it takes action, such as working with the manufacturer to resolve the issue and taking steps to prevent the product from entering (or remaining in) the market).
US and EU take action on PFAS
In the US, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with tackling PFAS: publishing water quality criteria and benchmarks, creating a national drinking water standard, and measuring PFAS in the environment.
In Europe, the European Chemicals Agency monitors and assesses PFAS actions across the EU.
A brewing storm: How producers can get one step ahead
For beverages, the implication could be enormous.
Beer is a good example. As water is a main component of beer and the brewing process, if PFAS is found in the local water, it will also end up in the beer.
The ‘Hold My Beer’ study looked at the linkage between municipal water and brewing location on PFAS in popular beverages.
The study found that PFAS were detected in most beers sampled, particularly in the case of smaller scale breweries located near drinking water sources with known PFAS (around 18% of US breweries are located within zip codes with detectable PFAS in municipal drinking water, estimates the study).
As regulatory authorities around the world introduce PFAS limits for drinking water to protect consumer health, implications for the beverage industry could be significant, notes Sagentia Innovation, an R&D consultancy headquartered in Cambridge, UK.
If source water contains high levels of PFAS, it is possible that manufactured products will be affected. In some cases, the manufacturing process may further contaminate products due to PFAS leaching from processing equipment and infrastructure components such as seals and O-rings.
Sagentia Innovation advises beverage companies to devise and implement a PFAS testing regime, whether they use municipal water supplies or private supplies such as springs. This should encompass incoming water as well as products and effluents to help quantify the potential PFAS challenge facing the business.
To help companies navigate this rapidly evolving landscape Dr Dan Spencer, Consultant and Sector Manager at Sagentia Innovation, has co-authored a whitepaper on PFAS management. It considers strategies and technologies for the identification, detection, and removal of these compounds, as well as considering how on-site sources can be replaced.
“With PFAS levels in drinking water under scrutiny, beverage manufacturers need to get ahead of the curve,” explains Spencer, who studied at the University of Cambridge and University of Oxford before joining Sagentia’s industrial, chemicals and energy sector team.
“PFAS management is a hugely complex area, so an early, strategic response is key to aid business planning and risk management.”
The key, says Spencer, is to have a pragmatic, systematic PFAS management approach. He breaks down the ideal PFAS response into four key areas: identification, replacement, detection and removal.
“Identifying any PFAS in the incoming water and end products, then comparing levels with emerging limits, is a critical first step,” he says.
This may take some time: as PFAS may be introduced by either a direct or indirect source. Getting information from suppliers takes time, especially for companies with complex systems.
Testing is another large task: but the time invested in specific, reliable information on chemicals and concentrations is important.
That’s why it’s so important to start at the earliest possible stage.
“Armed with this insight, manufacturers can determine whether they need to implement an ongoing testing regime or take proactive steps to reduce PFAS levels,” continues Spencer. “Whether you’re a global brand or a craft producer, our advice is to integrate PFAS identification and detection with existing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) approaches.”
Taking action in brewing
The Brewers Association, the trade association representating US craft brewers, reviewed the 'Hold my Beer' study in May.
Chuck Skypeck, technical brewing projects director, works with the association's technical committee on the safety, sustainability, quality, engineering and best practice in brewery operations. He offers the following advice to breweries:
"Contact your municipal or private water supplier to ascertain if the water your supplier provides meets the EPA allowable limits. Breweries that source their water from private wells are advised to test their water to ensure all regulations for primary drinking water are satisfied.
"Common filtration methods used in breweries can, when systems are well maintained, help minimize PFAS contamination. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration have been shown to be somewhat effective in removing longer-chain PFAS compounds."
