German mineral water test finds widespread PFAS contamination

Consumer watchdog Öko‑Test examined 56 medium‑type mineral waters from across Germany. While 40 brands received a “very good” rating, the laboratory detected per‑ and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), specifically trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), in almost two‑thirds of the samples. In several cases the measured TFA levels exceeded the EU drinking‑water limit for PFAS, prompting Öko‑Test to label the water’s “original purity” as inadequate.

The analysis also uncovered arsenic in one brand at more than half the legal maximum, as well as residues of pesticide breakdown products and artificial sweeteners in a number of bottles. Öko‑Test warned that such “eternal chemicals” persist in the environment and may pose long‑term health risks, urging stricter monitoring and clearer labeling for mineral‑water producers.