Your Beer May Contain ‘Forever Chemicals’

Your favorite beer likely contains the same contaminants as the PFAS-laced municipal water used in its brewing process.

A glass of beer in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Jan. 20, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Many beers sold across the United States contain “forever chemicals” that mirror contamination levels in local drinking water supplies, according to new research.

An April study found 17 different compounds in nearly all beer samples tested from breweries nationwide, and some beers contained levels that exceeded Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety limits for drinking water.

Water Contamination Creates Trickle-Down Effect

The research, recently published in Environmental Science & Technology, suggests a strong correlation between contaminated municipal water sources and levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in beer—meaning that the higher PFAS in the water used for brewing often resulted in higher levels in the beer—with smaller breweries particularly affected. About 18 percent of U.S. breweries operate in areas where tap water contains detectable PFAS, contributing to contamination of the final product.

“While there are other potential PFAS sources that we didn’t test, we found that the PFAS types and concentrations were strongly linked to municipal water source,” research lead Jennifer Hoponick Redmon told The Epoch Times. She had wondered whether PFAS in water supplies was “making its way into our pints,” she said.

Researchers collected 23 beer samples, focusing on breweries in North Carolina, Michigan, and California, as well as popular national and international brands. In North Carolina and Michigan—states with documented drinking water contamination—PFAS levels in beer closely matched water concentrations.

To analyze the samples, the scientists opened the beer cans and let them sit overnight to remove any gases. Then, they mixed each sample with methanol. To find and measure the PFAS chemicals, they used a special testing method called liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

“We predominantly analyzed lagers and lighter beers for consistency across breweries for this study,” Redmon stated.

The research shows PFAS in water supplies have “trickle-down effects” on what’s in our beverages, she said.

Certain chemicals, such as PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), were frequently detected, and four samples out of the 23 had PFOS or PFOA levels above the safety limits set by the EPA for drinking water.

In 2024, the EPA set a maximum limit of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS samples. In the study, one beer had a PFOS level of around 6.2 ppt, and samples from three different beers recorded PFOA levels between 4 ppt and 6.6 ppt.

Beers brewed near the Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina, an area with known PFAS pollution, showed the highest levels and diversity of these chemicals.

Forever chemicals are known as such because they don’t break down easily. They can cause serious health problems, including decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, accelerated puberty, increased cancer risk, and immune system impairment.

“They are all very serious conditions that can significantly affect lives,” said Bryan Quoc Le, who holds a doctorate in food science and is the founder and principal food consultant at Mendocino Food Consulting. However, he noted that effects vary based on exposure level and individual factors.

Current Water Treatment Ineffective Against PFAS

Le is alarmed that current water treatment methods do not remove PFAS chemicals, as evidenced by their presence in beer, and said that improvements in how water is kept safe to drink are crucial for public health.

Study coauthor Nikki DeLuca told The Epoch Times that while the findings suggest PFAS contamination from source water is likely the primary source of PFAS in beer, the research team did not test for this directly.

“There are also some potential secondary sources of PFAS that could be introduced during the brewing process, such as hops, grains, plastic tubing, packaging materials, and cleaning supplies,” she stated.

Compounding the problem is that standard drinking water treatment processes, such as coagulation, flocculation, and filtration, are generally not effective at removing PFAS from water. This is because PFAS are dissolved in water and have chemical properties that make them difficult to remove using these methods.

While effective technologies have been identified, implementing them on a commercial scale remains difficult and expensive, Le said.

The EPA in 2024 set limits for the maximum contamination level for six PFAS chemicals and required water treatment plants to reduce PFAS levels in their water if they exceed such levels—still, this rule is not enforceable until 2029.

The researchers suggest breweries could improve their water filtration using methods such as activated carbon or reverse osmosis to reduce PFAS levels.

What Consumers Can Do

People can reduce their potential exposure to PFAS in beer and other beverages by taking several steps. Redmon’s advice is to:

• Check water quality reports from local public water utilities to assess PFAS levels
• Select beers from regions with lower PFAS presence, when possible
• Drink in moderation
• Stay informed about treatment updates for municipal water or beverage source water

Le pointed out the seriousness of this issue, considering the known, serious health effects, and emphasized that PFAS are practically inescapable, as they can be found in everyday objects, such as carpets, food, and water.

The study authors hope their findings will inform policymakers, help brewers improve water safety measures, and guide consumers in making more informed choices.