PFAS in Production Water: What Food & Beverage Manufacturers Need to Know
By Noelle DeStefano, National PFAS Sector Lead and Brad Nelson, Director of Laboratory Operations - IL/WI
Water plays a central role in food and beverage production. It’s part of the product, the process, and ultimately, your brand. That’s why PFAS risk has become harder to ignore.
One of the most common assumptions is that municipal water eliminates concern. In reality, PFAS has been detected across both public and private systems, often influenced by upstream factors like industrial discharge, landfill leachate, or historical firefighting foam use. Surface water downstream of wastewater plants and groundwater near industrial corridors can carry elevated risk, even when your facility isn’t near an obvious contamination site.
For example: Imagine a mid-sized beverage company in the Midwest that relies entirely on municipal water and has never tested for PFAS. During a retailer audit connected to a “clean label” claim, they conducted initial sampling and discovered low-level detections linked to upstream industrial activity. The issue isn’t regulatory exceedance, but it creates immediate pressure to substantiate marketing claims, especially “natural” or “clean label” positioning, while validating product integrity and protecting brand trust.
When and How to Validate Your Water
PFAS testing is rarely random. It’s typically triggered by change, such as new production lines, supplier onboarding, regulatory updates, or increased customer scrutiny.
The biggest mistake is treating testing as a one-time checkbox. A single sample rarely tells the full story. Instead, validation should follow a structured approach:
- Start with a risk screen (site history, nearby land use)
- Design a sampling plan (raw source, post-treatment, distribution points)
- Execute carefully in the field using PFAS-specific protocols
- Analyze using validated EPA methods
- Interpret results in context, not isolation
For example: Imagine a dairy processor evaluating a new groundwater well using only one initial test, which came back as non-detect. Months later, follow-up sampling revealed intermittent PFAS presence tied to seasonal groundwater shifts. A more robust upfront sampling plan could have identified this variability earlier and prevented delays in bringing the well online.
Data integrity is just as important as the results themselves. PFAS sampling requires strict handling using PFAS-free materials, avoiding contamination sources, and maintaining strong QA/QC practices. Without that discipline, even accurate lab analysis can be undermined.
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What to Do with the Results
Interpreting PFAS data isn’t always straightforward. A “non-detect” doesn’t guarantee absence, and focusing on a single compound can miss broader exposure. Manufacturers should look at trends over time, compare results to applicable standards, and understand how treatment systems impact finished water.
If PFAS is detected, the path forward often expands: confirmatory sampling, broader analyte testing, and efforts to identify the source.
For example: Imagine a craft brewery identifies PFAS in its source water during routine testing. Initial concern centered on compliance, but deeper investigation shows levels were stable and manageable with treatment adjustments. By implementing a monitoring schedule and documenting results, they are able to confidently communicate with distributors and avoid disruption.
For food and beverage operations, these decisions directly impact product integrity, regulatory standing, and the defensibility of marketing claims, particularly “natural” or “clean label” positioning, which are often tested through litigation rather than regulation. Getting it right the first time can prevent costly rework, legal exposure, and unnecessary risk.
In closing...
Metiri helps food and beverage manufacturers navigate PFAS in production water with confidence. From risk screening through ongoing monitoring, our integrated field and laboratory services deliver fast, defensible data, helping you validate your water, avoid rework, and protect your brand.
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Established in 2019, Metiri Group has focused on using full-service environmental laboratories to deliver testing services to inform the decisions that improve the lives of people and the planet.
In addition to its analytical capabilities, Metiri Group aims to deliver exceptional value to a range of clients, from industrial and corporate clients, municipal water systems, environmental consultants and engineers, and local, state and federal government. Metiri Group continues to strive to be the first choice for environmental analytical laboratory services.
