Swedish crayfish sold in stores can contain high levels of the environmental toxin PFAS.
When seven different crayfish packages were analyzed by the Nature Conservation Association, the levels in four of the crayfish packages were higher than what is allowed in the EU.
Now the association wants the Swedish Food Agency to investigate whether it is illegal to sell crayfish with such high PFAS values.
There are approximately 10,000 PFAS chemicals. They repel grease, dirt and water and are therefore used in many different products, from outdoor clothing and ski fleece to pizza boxes and fire foam.
But the PFAS chemicals don’t break down and are sometimes called forever chemicals. And they can be dangerous to health.
– We have found high levels of PFAS in crayfish caught in Swedish lakes. Too much PFAS has been spread out in nature to the ground and to the water. And PFAS are troublesome, if you ingest high levels over a long period of time, it can be linked to health effects such as damaged immune system or certain types of cancer, for example, says Therese Börjesson, head of sea, water and environmental toxins at the Nature Conservation Society.
Reported to the Swedish Food Agency
At the turn of the year 2023, binding limit values were introduced in the EU for how much PFAS may be present in various foods sold within the Union. The limit values apply to eggs, fish, shellfish and meat sold within the EU and apply from 1 January 2023. They apply to four of the most investigated PFAS chemicals, and it is up to the companies that sell the food to ensure that the limit values are not exceeded.
Today, the Nature Conservation Society sends a notification to the Swedish Food Agency to investigate whether the crayfish with high PFAS levels are being sold illegally.
But we don’t often eat crayfish – why is it a problem if it contains PFAS?
– The big problem is not that we get PFAS via crayfish, but that we get it from many sources at the same time. And that’s why it’s important that we don’t have drinking water and food that have levels above the limit values that have been set, says Therese Börjesson.