Last modified on Thu 19 Jan 2023 14. PFAS are a class of about 12,000 chemicals typically used to make thousands of consumer products simply cranberry cocktail water, stains and heat.

Water is considered to be a main exposure route, but researchers have recently found contaminated food to be more of a risk than previously thought. Tom Neltner, chemicals policy director with the Environmental Defense Fund, a non-profit that pressures the FDA to take stronger action on PFAS. Attorneys for the plaintiffs and Coca Cola did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The suit said third-party testing found PFOA and PFOS, two of the most dangerous compounds, which were used for decades before being largely phased out in the US, but which continue to contaminate the nation’s environment. EPA considers safe for drinking water. No limits for PFAS in orange juice or other food products exist in the US.

The suit comes amid increased scrutiny over the use of PFAS in plastic. A lawsuit filed in late December just days ahead of the class action suit asks a judge to order Houston-based firm Inhance to stop adding PFAS to plastic. It is unclear how or why PFAS are in Simply Orange as the chemicals could be contaminating the water that is mixed with the juice, the fruit or packaging. If the chemicals were intentionally added to the product, then the levels would probably be much higher, Neltner said. Regardless, the synthetic chemicals are allegedly in a product that claims to be free from them. Media Limited or its affiliated companies. To save this word, you’ll need to log in.