Estimated exposure PFOA from the samples of canned clams, which were from China, is likely a health concern
In a Constituent Update released today, the FDA has made available testing results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seafood samples collected at retail. The FDA conducted this limited survey as a preliminary step to determine if a more targeted or larger seafood survey should be conducted.
The agency tested 81 samples of clams, cod, crab, pollock, salmon, shrimp, tuna and tilapia, most of which were imported to the United States. Using the best available science, the FDA evaluated individually the PFAS detected that have toxicological reference values and determined that the estimated exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a type of PFAS, from the samples of canned clams, which were from China, is likely a health concern. For the canned clam samples with the two highest levels of PFOA, there would be a potential health concern for consumers who eat more than approximately 10 oz. of these clams per month, except for young children, who should limit consumption to 2 oz. per month.