Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in cereal products: Based on current knowledge, no health impairments are expected
What it's about:
According to measurements carried out by an association, commercially available cereal products contain residues of TFA (trifluoroacetic acid). The average concentration was 0.078 milligrams (mgshort formilligram) per kilogram (kgshort forkilogram), with the highest value at 0.360 mgshort formilligram/kgshort forkilogram (muesli). In response to enquiries from the public, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has carried out an initial assessment based on the published values.
The result: a person weighing 60 kilograms (kgshort forkilogram) would have to eat at least eight kgshort forkilogram of muesli a day to exceed the health-based guidance value for TFA of 0.05 mgshort formilligram per kgshort forkilogram of body weight, based on the highest measured value. Therefore, based on current knowledge, no impairments are expected.
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has no information regarding the actual sources of the reported concentrations of trifluoroacetic acid in cereal products. TFA can be formed as a degradation product (metabolite) of various pesticides. However, other pathways of entry are also known, for example via fluorinated refrigerants and propellants.
As part of the renewal of the approval of the active substance flufenacet, an acceptable daily intake (ADIshort forAcceptable Daily Intake) of 0.05 milligrams per kilogram of body weight was derived. An acute reference dose (ARfDshort forAcute Reference Dose) was not considered necessary by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority) during the renewal. In accordance with the current state of science and technology, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment concurs with the EFSA’s assessment regarding the ADIshort forAcceptable Daily Intake, but considers it necessary to derive an ARfDshort forAcute Reference Dose as well. In the BfR’s view, this should currently also be set at 0.05 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment considers TFA to be toxic to reproduction. The relevant national and international scientific institutions and authorities are currently dealing intensively and interdisciplinary with this substance.
Health-based guidance values for TFA
At the request of the European Commission, EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority is currently reviewing the health-based guidance values (HBGVshort forHealth-Based Guidance Value) for TFA. EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority is conducting this review in collaboration with the Member States and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHAshort forEuropean Chemicals Agency), which is responsible for the classification of the chemical properties of TFA (https://www.efsa.europa.eu/de/topics/per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas). The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment will update its assessment if new findings emerge.