TFA contamination in European wines, study shows

The most recent report disseminated by Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) has exposed the contamination of European wines by TFA, trifluoroacetic acid, a fluorinated derivative of acetic acid with the formula CF3COOH. This chemical substance is recognised as a harmful, corrosive and dangerous agent for the environment and human health. Indeed, research conducted on mammals has demonstrated that TFA has the potential to induce reproductive complications and contribute to infertility in humans. The preliminary screening, conducted on 49 bottles of wine on the market and produced on the continent, has highlighted a significant increase in TFA since 2010, with lower levels in organic wines. Recent studies conducted by European researchers have highlighted the correlation between TFA and PFAS pesticides, based on chemicals and widely used in agriculture. These results are consistent with those of a study published at the end of 2024 by German researchers, which demonstrated how the concentration of TFA in the groundwater of agricultural land is significantly higher than that recorded in areas not used for agriculture.