Can PFAS from household products show up in eggs from backyard chickens?
Some Concern
What's actually in it
PFAS get into the food chain through contaminated water, soil, and feed. Chickens peck at the ground and drink water that may contain these "forever chemicals." The PFAS concentrate in the eggs they lay. Both backyard and commercial chickens can be affected, depending on what they eat and where they live.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Foods measured PFAS levels in commercial and home-produced eggs in Croatia. The researchers found PFAS in both types of eggs. Home-produced eggs sometimes had higher levels, likely because backyard chickens forage in soil that may be contaminated from nearby sources.
The specific PFAS compounds found included PFOS, PFOA, and several newer replacements. Eating eggs with elevated PFAS adds to your total daily exposure from water, cookware, and other foods.
If you raise backyard chickens, test your soil and water for PFAS. Avoid letting chickens forage near areas treated with biosolids or near industrial sites. Use a PFAS-filtering water system for their drinking water.
The research at a glance
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