Part Two - AFFF Firefighting Foam Contamination Puts Food Supply In Danger
Millions of dairy and beef cows in the US may have to be destroyed as a result of PFAS forever chemical contamination
Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Farmers are reported to have to sell their farms as remediation of thousands of acres of land is proving to be impossible. PFAS forever chemicals from AFFF foam have been found in the sludge that farmers have sprayed on their soil for decades to fertilize the vegetation that dairy cows graze on. Dairy cow milk has been tested in several locations around the US and found to contain toxic levels of PFAS forever chemically at levels so high that milk processors have refused to process the milk deeming it to be undrinkable. Farmers are having to take total financial loss as they must dispose of their current herd of contaminated cows, and repurchase others. Also, farmers cannot sell their PFAS-contaminated property or anything on it. The AFFF dairy farm contamination tragedy is sure to farms in the US that are near a military installation, airport, or firefighting station that has used PFAS chemicals in the past. Dairybusiness.com is acutely interested in this issue and recently wrote about one typical dairy farmer's experience. "If a source of PFAS is near a dairy, the chemicals can travel in the groundwater to the dairy's supply wells. A 4,000-cow dairy in Clovis, New Mexico, was depopulated and closed after PFAS from a nearby United States Air Force base contaminated seven of the dairy's wells. In the dairy owner, Art Schaap's, words, "This has poisoned everything I've worked for and everything I care about. I can't sell the milk. I can't sell beef. I can't sell the cows. I can't sell crops or my property."
From 2012 to 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted extensive analyses of a wide range of food products that came from areas that were thought to be impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS chemicals were found in several food categories throughout this investigation period, including milk, meat, seafood, grains, and produce. The FDA conducted a thorough analysis of food products that were supplied from places identified as possible hotspots for PFAS contamination throughout these investigations. To determine the degree of PFAS infiltration in the food supply chain, strict testing procedures had to be put in place. The results demonstrated the pervasiveness of PFAS in a variety of food categories, highlighting the scope of this environmental problem and its consequences for human health. The discovery of PFAS contamination in common foods like milk, meat, fish, grains, and produce highlights how pervasive this environmental issue is and how seriously it affects public health. To address the widespread prevalence of PFAS in the food chain, it generates urgent requests for stricter regulatory measures and all-encompassing mitigation techniques.
The results of the FDA's thorough investigations serve as a clear call to action for US lawmakers and regulatory agencies to work towards passing strong laws that will prevent PFAS contamination and protect the integrity of the food supply. AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits may force government environmental watchdogs to put measures in place to make sure that customers are provided with safe and healthy food. In addition, it is crucial to reduce the dangers associated with PFAS exposure through proactive measures and awareness-raising.
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