Determination of 43 PFAS in Beer and Wine

Importance of the topic

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants with growing regulatory scrutiny. Recent European Commission limits and AOAC performance standards highlight the need for reliable PFAS monitoring in food and beverages. Although alcoholic drinks are not yet regulated for PFAS, evidence of contamination in beer and wine from water sources makes routine testing essential for food safety and quality control.

Objectives and study overview

This work presents the development and validation of a multi-residue method to quantify 43 PFAS in beer and wine. Key aims include streamlining sample preparation, enhancing matrix cleanup, and achieving sensitive and accurate detection in accordance with AOAC SMPR 2023.003 criteria.

Methodology and sample preparation

Samples (2 g) of six beverage types were spiked with native PFAS standards and isotopically labeled internal standards. Direct extraction with acidified acetonitrile (ACN, 1% acetic acid) provided clear phase separation. After centrifugation, the supernatant underwent passthrough cleanup on Agilent Captiva EMR PFAS Food I cartridges (680 mg). No drying or reconstitution was required. Final extracts were analyzed by LC/MS/MS using feed injection to mitigate solvent effects and enable larger injection volumes of up to 10 µL.

Used instrumentation

• Agilent 1290 Infinity II high-speed pump and Infinity III Hybrid Multisampler
• Agilent ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 analytical column with PFC-delay guard column
• Agilent 6495D Triple Quadrupole LC/MS with Jet Stream electrospray source
• Agilent Captiva EMR PFAS Food I cleanup cartridges

Main results and discussion

Acidified ACN extraction outperformed methanol by improving phase separation and reducing co-extractives. EMR cleanup removed color and matrix interferences, yielding transparent extracts. Feed injection prevented peak distortion for early-eluting PFAS and maintained sensitivity. Method limits of quantitation met or exceeded AOAC requirements, with calculated or experimental LOQs below target values. Recoveries ranged from 70 to 120 %, and repeatability (RSD) was generally below 15 % across LOQ, low, and mid-level spikes in beer and wine. Cross-validation in additional beverage types confirmed robust performance for all 43 PFAS, except minor matrix enhancement for one analyte without a matching internal standard.

Benefits and practical applications

• Rapid, cost-effective sample preparation without drying/reconstitution
• High throughput enabled by direct feed injection and passthrough cleanup
• Sensitive and accurate quantitation across diverse alcoholic matrices
• Compliance with current regulatory performance criteria

Future trends and possibilities

Further expansion of PFAS analyte coverage, integration of high-resolution mass spectrometry, and automation of sample cleanup are expected. Adapting the method to other complex beverages and food matrices, as well as online cleanup technologies, will enhance monitoring capabilities and regulatory compliance.

Conclusion

The described method delivers a streamlined workflow for routine determination of 43 PFAS in beer and wine. Its simplicity, robustness, and regulatory alignment make it well suited for QA/QC laboratories and large-scale surveillance of alcoholic beverages.

References

• EUR-Lex. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food
• AOAC International. Standard Method Performance Requirements SMPR 2023.003 for PFAS in produce, beverages, dairy, eggs, seafood, meat products, and feed; 2023
• Brzeziński B. European wines face alarming ‘forever chemical’ contamination; Politico April 2025
• American Chemical Society. Research reveals ‘forever chemicals’ present in beer; PressPacs May 2025
• Zhao L, Giardina M. Determination of 30 PFAS in fruits, vegetables, and juices; Agilent Technologies App Note 5994-7369EN; 2024
• Zhao L, Giardina M, Parry E. Determination of 30 PFAS in baby food; Agilent Technologies App Note 5994-7367EN; 2024