The New York Post reports that kale from U.S. grocery stores has been found to have disturbing levels of chemicals - specifically per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (also called PFAS).
The discovery was noted when scientists decided to study a sampling of healthy vegetables and selected kale. They took samples of kale from different grocery stores and analyzed them in a lab certified by the Environmental Protection Agency. They found that seven out of eight samples from the stores had the chemicals.
The results were published by the Alliance for Natural Health on their website.
PFAs are particularly worrisome and are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily and are found in the soil, water, and air.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS accumulates in vegetable products by adsorption through the roots or leaves.
In addition, studies show that these chemicals have been linked to cancer and can affect the immune system and cause fertility issues.
The most interesting aspect of this study was that scientists had already conducted similar tests on grocery store kale between 2019 and 2021. However, at that time, they found no evidence of PFAS in kale.
This means from 2021 to 2023, something led to the contamination of kale with PFAS. Scientists believe that the kale may have been contaminated because it was grown in PFAS-tinted water in the fields.
Currently, there are no established safe levels for PFAS found in food in the U.S.
However, the results are worrisome and scientists agree that there should be a testing program implemented for the entire food supply.
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