Ahead of Easter, health warnings over PFAS-contaminated homegrown eggs have spread across the EU, with the Netherlands joining Belgium, France, Denmark, and Italy in urging caution, according to Euractiv.
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) issued an unprecedented advisory on Tuesday, urging citizens to avoid consuming eggs from backyard hens after a nationwide study revealed dangerous levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), toxic “forever chemicals” linked to cancers, immune disorders, and developmental issues.
The RIVM’s analysis of 60 sites found PFAS levels in homegrown eggs exceeding safe thresholds, prompting its stark recommendation. “Commercial eggs, including free-range, remain safe,” assured Saïda Ahyad of the Dutch Food Authority, noting all tested store-bought eggs complied with EU limits.
However, the agency warned that PFAS ingestion from other sources–drinking water, food packaging, and pesticides–already pushes Dutch residents toward hazardous exposure.
Similar advisories are in force elsewhere. Flanders limits homegrown egg consumption to 2 per week (1 for vulnerable groups), with bans in high-PFAS zones. In Paris, residents near contaminated soils have been told to avoid backyard eggs since 2023. Danish children exceeding 2 organic eggs weekly also risk surpassing EU PFAS limits. In Italy, a 2021 scandal revealed Veneto officials suppressed data showing PFAS in eggs, fruits, and vegetables.
PFAS, used in non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, and waterproof textiles, persist indefinitely in ecosystems, accumulating in soil, water, and food chains. “When the simple act of collecting eggs from one’s own backyard becomes a health risk, it signals a systemic failure in environmental protection,” said Tatiana Santos of the European Environmental Bureau.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is drafting a proposal to restrict PFAS under REACH regulations, but campaigners argue progress is too slow.
