Are short and ultra-short chain polyfluorinated substances environmental or food contaminants? Reframing exposure pathways across the food system

Food contamination by perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a growing concern because of their persistence and potential health risks. The phase-out of long-chain (LC) PFAS has accelerated the use of short-chain (SC) and ultra-short-chain (USC) alternatives, which are generally more polar and water-soluble, thus mobile, promoting dispersion through soils and waters and linking environmental reservoirs to food production and processing. Toxicological evidence indicates that SC/USC-PFAS hazards cannot be overlooked. From a food-system perspective, rather than viewing 'environmental' versus 'food contamination' as separate domains, primary agricultural production and food-contact materials (FCM) act as interconnected sources of dietary exposure, yet source attribution of SC/USC-PFAS is particularly challenging given their precursor-rich occurrence in FCM and incomplete analytical coverage. Improved analytics (hybrid extraction and high-resolution mass spectrometry) enhance the detection of SC/USC-PFAS in complex foods, but comprehensive monitoring remains challenging, underscoring the need for robust methods to support regulation.