Food safe from 'forever chemicals', report finds

New tests for the level of "forever chemicals" in Jersey's food and environment show "the food supply is safe", the government has said.

An independent scientific advisory panel said it had found many food samples contained below detectable levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the majority were below EU maximum rates.

The exception was pork liver which had been tested twice and found to contain higher levels of PFAS than the EU permitted.

PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because of the time it takes for them to break down, which the PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel previously found was linked to serious health conditions.

In May consultants found the affected area near the airport was "larger than previously understood" due to use of firefighting foam at the airport in the 1990s.

The advisory panel found the level of PFAS in Jersey Royal and maincrop potatoes was below the EU indicative level for concern, except for one from the plume area near the airport which had tested slightly higher.

It reported 50% of potato samples across the island had contained below detectable levels of PFAS.

PFAS in Jersey milk had been found to have below detectable levels and eggs contained levels less than 50% of the EU's maximum permitted level.

The panel found fish, seafood, beef and pork meat sample results had all been below the EU PFAS maximum levels.

There was one exception, a sample of pork liver had been found to contain high levels of PFAS which exceeded the EU's maximum and when it was resampled, found to be even higher than the original test result.

The Minister for the Environment Deputy Steve Luce said the test results were "very reassuring".

"They show our food supply is safe and that PFAS levels in our agricultural produce are very low and in many cases undetectable."

The minister said soil tests had shown PFAS had not spread beyond the known plume area and Jersey did not have a wider PFAS issue.

On Wednesday the panel also published its draft recommendations for managing PFAS in the environment which Luce said he would respond to in February 2026.

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