A new report from the environmental group PAN Europe has found traces of PFAS chemicals—often called “forever chemicals”—in bottles of wine sold in stores across the European Union. These man-made compounds are known for resisting natural breakdown, making them a long-term threat to the environment and public health.
PAN Europe tested wine from ten major wine-producing EU countries and discovered troubling levels of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a type of PFAS. TFA levels were sometimes 100 times higher than what is typically found in drinking water. The group says this finding highlights the scale of PFAS pollution.
PFAS: A Hidden Contaminant
PFAS are used in many products, from non-stick cookware and firefighting foam to pesticides and cooling systems. Because they don’t break down easily, they remain in soil, water, and even food. In this case, TFA is released when fluorinated gases—used in refrigeration and air conditioning—escape into the air.
“These gases break down in the air and form TFA, which falls back to Earth in rain,” said Salomé Roynel, a policy officer at PAN Europe. “That rain reaches our fields, where the grapes for wine are grown.”
Pesticides are another major source of TFA. Some of these chemicals, sprayed directly onto crops, contain PFAS. They seep into the soil and groundwater, and over time, they end up in the fruits and vegetables we eat and the water we drink.
The Montreal Protocol Link
The study also found a striking historical pattern. PAN Europe looked at wine samples from different years to measure changes in contamination over time. It discovered that wines made before 1988 showed no TFA presence. But after that year, levels began to rise steadily.
The timing aligns with the adoption of the 1987 Montreal Protocol. This international treaty banned many ozone-depleting chemicals. To replace them, industries began using fluorinated gases. These newer gases don’t harm the ozone layer but do release TFA as a byproduct.
“This moment in history created a shift,” Roynel said. “We stopped using one harmful group of chemicals and unknowingly replaced them with another.”
Organic Wines Not Safe Either
Alarmingly, TFA was found not only in conventional wines but also in organic ones. This shows how deeply PFAS have spread in our environment. Even when vineyards avoid synthetic chemicals, they can’t escape pollution from the air, rain, and surrounding soil.
Roynel noted that there is little scientific research on TFA’s effects. “We know so little,” she said. “But recent studies on animals are worrying.” One study, for example, showed that TFA exposure could harm rabbit foetuses, affecting both reproduction and development.
Cleanup Is Possible—But Costly
Removing TFA from water and food is possible, but not easy. The process uses a lot of energy, water, and money. Also, the contaminated water that gets filtered must be safely disposed of.
“This is not something we can fix overnight,” Roynel said. “But the first step is knowing that the problem exists.”
EU Policy Action Expected
PAN Europe hopes its findings will lead to stronger environmental policies. Next month, leaders from the 27 EU countries will meet to discuss whether to ban a specific PFAS-based pesticide. PAN Europe urges them to take bold action.
“We are at a turning point,” Roynel said. “We need to decide what kind of future we want—for our health, our environment, and the generations to come.”
Consumers, too, have a role to play. PAN Europe recommends buying wine from producers that test for chemical residues and limit pesticide use. Supporting organic and biodynamic vineyards may help reduce demand for chemicals, even if full protection isn’t guaranteed.