Spotted by our Ilja Gort: Fake News about PFAS in wine

There is currently a study in the news that would show that wine is allegedly contaminated with TFA. This research is not conducted by a scientific institute, but by an environmental organisation.
Text: Ilja Gort | Image: Caroline d'Hollosy

Since reports on environmental pollution are not sexy publicly, the makers put the focus of their research on wine, called it 'Message in a bottle' and put a picture of a bottle of wine on the cover.

First, this:

• TFA is a residue of PFAS.
• PFAS are found in chemical products to make things water-repellent.
• And also dirt- and grease-resistant. That is why TFA is hardly degradable.
• Viticulture is totally irrelevant in this.
• The major contributor to PFAS is not agriculture, and certainly not viticulture, but the chemical industry.

Which produces PFAS for Tefal pans, cosmetics, lipstick, mackintoshes, packaging materials, pizza boxes. As a result, TFA is now in drinking water and therefore in vegetables, in meat, in fish, in eggs.

Wine in particular contains very few PFAS

In theory, a vineyard can be contaminated, but vines hardly absorb PFAS through the roots. Wine production is done in stainless steel tanks or wooden barrels and these do not contain PFAS. Pesticides contain Pfas, but viticulture uses them to a decreasing extent. Moreover, viticulture constitutes only 0.3% of global agriculture.

In figures, less than 0.01% of global PFAS production may be possibly indirectly are linked to viticulture. And according to scientists, even that 0.01% is probably an overestimate. Conclusion: Wine does not contain significantly higher amounts of PFAS or TFA than other foods.

So this research is FAKE NEWS

Fortunately, Hans Peter Arp, one of the researchers, admits as much himself. At the end of this report, he says: 'This the alarming increase is in almost everything we can measure. This is proof that TFA is in everything.'

In short: fine that they are doing this research, because PFAS production should be banned immediately, but don't try to score your publicity on the back of wine, a product that is precisely the least affected by PFAS pollution.

In case you are still not reassured: scientists have calculated that to exceed the PFAS limit, you need to drink 200 glasses of wine a day. So do 1 glass less and with 199 glasses of wine a night, you are safe.

Don't want to miss a single edition? Subscribe then subscribe to WINELIFE Magazine now!

Want to stay up to date with the best articles? Follow WINELIFE magazine on Instagram, Facebook and sign up for our fortnightly newsletter.