EFSA lowers safe dietary exposure level for Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA)
- Date
- July 22, 2026
- Category
EU Regulations
- Sector
Supplements
- Description
EFSA has published a new scientific report revising the consumer health-based guidance values for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a highly persistent breakdown product of certain PFAS, fluorinated gases and some plant protection products. EFSA concluded that TFA is unlikely to be genotoxic but identified effects on thyroid hormones, development and reproduction as key toxicological concerns. The assessment establishes updated health-based guidance values for dietary exposure to TFA.
Key changes
- Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) reduced from 0.05 mg/kg bw/day to 0.014 mg/kg bw/day, making the acceptable long-term exposure level more than three times stricter.
- EFSA established, for the first time, an Acute Reference Dose (ARfD) of 0.07 mg/kg bw, providing a benchmark for assessing short-term exposure.
- The revised values are based primarily on observed reductions in thyroid hormone levels in animal studies, with additional uncertainty factors applied due to remaining data gaps on carcinogenicity and developmental immunotoxicity.
Why it matters
The new guidance values are likely to increase regulatory scrutiny of TFA contamination in food, water and agricultural supply chains. Food businesses may face greater pressure to monitor TFA occurrence, assess exposure risks and engage suppliers regarding potential sources. The revised thresholds will also support future EU risk assessments and could influence decisions on pesticides, environmental contaminants and water quality standards, potentially leading to tighter compliance expectations across the food sector.
Sources:
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10227