PFAS in Food Contact Materials: A Critical Review of Analytical Strategies, Migration Behavior, and Regulatory Frameworks (2005 - 2025)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a structurally diverse group of synthetic compounds with highly persistent properties. Due to their hydrophobic and oleophobic properties, PFAS have been widely used in the manufacturing of food contact materials (FCMs). As scientific evidence of their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity has emerged, PFAS have become a subject of growing regulatory and public health concern. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and critical overview of PFAS found in FCMs, with a particular focus on analytical methodologies used in the last 20 years. The current state of knowledge regarding the direct PFAS analysis in FCMs and PFAS migration into food is systematically evaluated. This review discusses sample preparation strategies, alongside instrumental analytical methods. The predominant approach is liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), complemented by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and sum-parameter approaches like total fluorine or extractable organic fluorine analysis. A central tabular overview of analytical studies published over the past two decades provides a structured summary of covered packaging matrices, scope of analyzed PFAS classes and individual compounds, and method performance. The review concludes with a brief overview of the regulatory framework of the European Union governing PFAS application. It also identifies critical gaps requiring further methodological and regulatory attention.