GEN-MKT-18-7897-A
Jan 29, 2026 | Blogs, Environmental / Industrial, Food / Beverage, Other, QTRAP / Triple Quad | 0 comments
Read time: 3 Mins
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is emerging as one of the most concerning ultrashort-chain PFAS in Europe’s food supply – particularly in cereals, a staple consumed daily by millions. A report from PAN Europe reveals a widespread and largely unmonitored contamination trend that raises serious questions about food safety, regulatory blind spots, and future monitoring strategies.
Amid this growing concern, mass spectrometry has never been more essential, and this is exactly where SCIEX and Phenomenex play a pivotal role.
TFA: A little‑known but ubiquitous “forever chemical”
A first-of-its-kind EU‑wide investigation by PAN Europe shows just how prevalent TFA contamination has become across cereal-based foods. According to the report:
TFA forms as a persistent degradation product from PFAS-containing pesticides and fluorinated gases. Once released, it resists breakdown, accumulates in water, soil, crops, and, most critically, ends up in everyday foods.
The findings make one thing clear: food has become a major and underrecognized exposure pathway for ultrashort-chain PFAS such as TFA.
Why detecting TFA is so challenging
Unlike longer-chain PFAS compounds, ultrashort-chain species like TFA are:
This complexity is a major reason why TFA contamination has remained “unseen and unregulated” across Europe — until now.
To address this analytical gap, labs must rely on high-sensitivity, high-specificity mass spectrometry workflows capable of quantifying ultrashort-chain PFAS at low μg/kg or sub‑μg/kg levels.
SCIEX: Enabling accurate, defensible TFA testing in food
It is becoming increasingly important for labs to detect even the most elusive contaminants, including ultrashort-chain PFAS such as TFA.
Here’s how SCIEX and Phenomenex technology addresses the analytical challenges:
Modern triple-quadrupole mass spectrometers, including the SCIEX 7500+ system, widely used in PFAS research, provide the sensitivity and resilience required to detect ultrashort-chain PFAS, such as TFA, at trace concentrations.
For challenging PFAS assays, lab mangers need solutions that can be relied on to deliver results time and time again. SCIEX and Phenomenex partner to combine expertise in PFAS testing and provide end-to-end solutions for robust and precise quantitation of PFAS compounds in a variety of matrices, enabling labs to:
Technical note
Analysis of ultrashort-chain PFAS in tomatoes using a Luna Polar Pesticides HPLC Column
Download now >
Advanced analytical software platforms used in PFAS workflows help laboratories process large data sets, manage calibration models, and separate true findings from matrix interferences, which are all critical when dealing with contaminants as small and mobile as TFA. These platforms also support traceability and reporting, which become increasingly important as regulatory discussions evolve. SCIEX OS software provides a streamlined platform for acquisition, processing, QA/QC, and reporting across PFAS methods.
Why this matters now for food testing labs
Regulators are beginning to recognize the severity of ultrashort-chain PFAS contamination, but food-based monitoring is still limited. TFA currently escapes most EU food safety monitoring systems, leaving a major surveillance gap.
With rising consumer concern, growing media attention, and clear scientific evidence of widespread contamination, the demand for high‑quality, high‑sensitivity analytical data will only accelerate.
Discover additional resources to support to PFAS analysis in food here >
Want to speak to a specialist? Request more information >
References
https://www.pan-europe.info/press-releases/2025/12/high-levels-forever-chemical-tfa-everyday-cereal-products-all-across-europe
https://chemtrust.org/news/study_shows_widespread_tfa_in_european_cereal_products/
PFAS analysis is complex, but expert guidance doesn’t have to be. In this episode of our ‘Ask the PFAS expert series’, we’re joined by Michael Scherer, Application Lead for Food and Environmental, to answer the most pressing questions in PFAS analysis. From why LC-MS/MS systems are the gold standard for analyzing diverse PFAS compounds, to which EU methods deliver reliable results for drinking water, and to practical steps to prevent contamination, Michael shares actionable insights to help laboratories achieve accuracy, consistency, and confidence in their workflows.
During an LC-MS/MS experiment, traditional fragmentation techniques like collision-induced dissociation (CID) have long been the gold standard. Electron-activated dissociation (EAD) is emerging as a transformative tool that enhances structural elucidation, particularly for complex or labile metabolites.
In the field of food chemistry and health, Prof. Nils Helge Schebb and his team at the University of Wuppertal are at the forefront of applying cutting-edge analytical methods to investigate how dietary components affect inflammation and chronic disease. Their work focuses on lipid mediators, particularly oxylipins, and how these molecules can be precisely measured and interpreted using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
Posted by
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Share this post with your network