Black Friday Deals and Big Promises: What Product Labels Aren't Telling You About PFAS
Black Friday Deals and Big Promises: What Product Labels Aren't Telling You About PFAS
Black Friday is almost here, bringing major discounts, limited-time offers, and advertisements promising cleaner ingredients, safer products, and more sustainable choices.
Over the past five years, both growing research and regulatory attention has brought more awareness to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals.”
From cosmetics and clothing to food packaging, the increase in long term effects of PFAS on health and the environment continues to raise alarm for many.
Five Years of Growing PFAS Awareness
One challenge in evaluating PFAS is the size and diversity of this chemical family.
Thousands of PFAS have been identified, and laboratories use different analytical methods depending on the substances being investigated and the materials being tested.
A laboratory analyzing cosmetics may target a specific group of PFAS, while another laboratory may use a different method to investigate drinking water or food.
Testing for selected PFAS cannot establish the absence of every substance within the broader chemical family. Interpreting laboratory findings also requires context.
The concentration detected, potential exposure, frequency of use, and available toxicological information can influence how results are understood.
This distinction is especially important when considering California's Proposition 65.
Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings before knowingly and intentionally exposing Californians to chemicals listed by the state as causing cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm, unless an exemption applies.
While thousands of PFAS exist, only certain members of this chemical family, including PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA, are currently listed under Proposition 65.
This means that detecting a PFAS in a product does not, on its own, establish a Proposition 65 violation. The specific chemical, the level of exposure, its listing status, and applicable warning requirements must all be considered.
It also highlights an important limitation in product testing. A product tested for PFOA and PFOS may still contain other PFAS that were not included in the laboratory's analysis.
Where Are PFAS Found in Everyday Products?
PFAS have been used across a wide range of consumer and industrial applications. Their presence depends on the manufacturer, product formulation, and intended use.
Several industries offer examples of how these chemicals have become part of modern manufacturing.
1. Cosmetics and Personal Care
Certain PFAS may be intentionally added to cosmetics to improve texture, durability, or water resistance.
In December 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that 51 PFAS were used across 1,744 cosmetic formulations listed with the agency.
The FDA also identified gaps in the toxicological information available for many of these substances, limiting its ability to reach definitive safety conclusions.
These findings raise important questions about how cosmetic ingredients are evaluated and what information is available to consumers.
2. Clothing and Textiles
PFAS have historically been used in water-resistant jackets, stain-resistant carpets, upholstery, and other treated fabrics.
These applications can improve product performance while introducing additional questions about environmental persistence, chemical exposure, and disposal.
Consumers interested in these products can look for information about the specific treatments used and whether manufacturers have evaluated their chemical composition.
3. Food Packaging
Certain PFAS-containing substances have historically been used to make paper food packaging resistant to grease and moisture.
This industry has experienced significant changes in recent years.
In February 2024, the FDA announced that PFAS-containing grease-proofing substances were no longer being sold for use in U.S. food packaging.
In January 2025, the agency determined that 35 related food-contact notifications were no longer effective, following manufacturers' or suppliers' abandonment of those uses.
These developments demonstrate how manufacturing practices can evolve alongside scientific research and regulatory oversight.
4. Household Products
PFAS have also been used in certain nonstick coatings, cleaning products, paints, sealants, and stain-resistant household materials.
Not every product in these categories contains PFAS. Individual substances can also differ in their chemical properties and potential exposure pathways. Understanding which substances are present provides a more meaningful starting point than treating all products or PFAS as identical.
5. Industrial Manufacturing
PFAS have applications in specialized manufacturing processes, including electronics production and certain firefighting foams. These uses extend the PFAS conversation beyond products purchased in stores.
Chemical releases during manufacturing, use, or disposal can contribute to environmental contamination, creating additional pathways through which people and ecosystems may encounter certain PFAS.
Together, these industries illustrate how widely PFAS have been used and why product-specific information remains important.
What Has Changed Since 2021?
The growing attention surrounding PFAS has contributed to developments in scientific research, testing, and product oversight. Over the past five years, federal agencies have expanded investigations into PFAS exposure through food and consumer products.
The FDA has strengthened its food-testing capabilities, assessed PFAS used in cosmetics, and documented the phase-out of certain PFAS-containing food-packaging substances.
These developments reflect an evolving understanding of chemical exposure and the importance of reliable scientific evidence. Manufacturers are also responding to changing regulatory requirements, consumer expectations, and available research.
At the same time, important questions remain. For many PFAS, gaps in scientific information continue to limit researchers' ability to fully evaluate exposure and potential health effects.
Clear communication about testing methods, findings, and limitations can help consumers understand what is known and where additional research is needed.
References
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. (n.d.). The Proposition 65 list. https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. (n.d.). PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/fact-sheets/pfoa-perfluorooctanoic-acid
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA PFAS drinking water laboratory methods. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/epa-pfas-drinking-water-laboratory-methods
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Our current understanding of the human health and environmental risks of PFAS. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). PFAS explained. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Water research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). https://www.epa.gov/water-research/water-research-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024, February 28). FDA announces PFAS used in grease-proofing agents for food packaging no longer being sold in the U.S. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-announces-pfas-used-grease-proofing-agents-food-packaging-no-longer-being-sold-us
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025, January 3). FDA determines authorization for 35 food contact notifications related to PFAS are no longer effective. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-determines-authorization-35-food-contact-notifications-related-pfas-are-no-longer-effective
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025, December 29). FDA finds insufficient data to determine safety of PFAS in cosmetic products. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-finds-insufficient-data-determine-safety-pfas-cosmetic-products
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cosmetics. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-cosmetics
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Questions and answers on PFAS in food. https://www.fda.gov/food/process-contaminants-food/questions-and-answers-pfas-food