Haley & Aldrich PFAS expert Sean Gormley discussed PFAS-related business risks for food and beverage companies in an article published by global industry monitor Food Ingredients First.
The article, EU Commission sounds €440B PFAS cost alarm as food sector accelerates alternatives, outlines the problem of PFAS contamination in food. It also discusses the challenges the EU and other jurisdictions face in regulating this group of chemicals (also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are pervasive in the environment.
Sean is one of a handful of global experts interviewed in the article. He notes that regulatory pressure means the food and beverage industry needs to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, PFAS in its products, even with limited data on the extent of the problem: “Many in the industry have already been voluntarily acting to do so, and the continued evolution of regulations in both the EU and in many US states will force every business to do so, or risk loss of market share.”
The EU has already banned certain PFAS in food packaging, set to take effect in August 2026. In the article, Sean recommends that food and beverage businesses engage a “knowledgeable, PFAS-experienced consultant and legal counsel” to understand the regulatory landscape and guide how they manage these chemicals in their products.
