The situation is critical: Poisonous wine floods Europe, Hungary also affected
A shocking new study has revealed that wine across Europe — including Hungary — is widely contaminated with “forever chemicals”, raising serious public health concerns. According to research published by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe, nearly every bottle of wine tested contained trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a persistent pollutant linked to severe health risks.
TFA is the final breakdown product of a group of pesticides known as PFAS (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances), infamous for their ability to remain in the environment — and in the human body — indefinitely, Portfolio writes. While older wines harvested before 1988 showed no trace of TFA, wines produced after 2010 displayed alarming contamination levels. In some cases, concentrations reached up to 320 micrograms per litre — more than 3,000 times higher than the EU’s groundwater threshold.
Hungarian wines affected as well
The situation is particularly troubling for Hungary. Two Hungarian wines — a red Villányi Kékfrankos and a white Tokaji Sárgamuskotály — were included in the study. The Kékfrankos showed a significant TFA level of 120 µg/l, while the Sárgamuskotály contained 66 µg/l, MTVSZ reports. Experts warn that despite the small sample size, the contamination likely extends to many other Hungarian wines as well.
While organic wines tended to have lower levels of TFA compared to conventional wines, none were entirely free from contamination. This underlines a grim reality: due to widespread environmental pollution, even organic farming cannot fully shield consumers from exposure.
The widespread contamination is a direct consequence of the wine industry’s heavy reliance on pesticides, particularly fungicides, given the grapevine’s vulnerability to disease. Spraying is so frequent that vineyards have effectively become hotspots for chemical accumulation.
TFA is a reproductive toxin
Adding to the concern, recent studies have challenged earlier assumptions that TFA was harmless. A 2021 industry-funded report linked TFA exposure to severe developmental abnormalities in rabbit embryos, leading regulators to reclassify TFA as a “reproductive toxin”. This shift in scientific consensus has prompted urgent calls to withdraw PFAS-based pesticides from the market altogether.
The political timing of the PAN Europe report is crucial, as EU member states are preparing to vote on banning flutolanil, a pesticide known for producing significant TFA residues. The outcome could have major implications for the future of European winemaking.
Wine sector in danger
Beyond health concerns, the findings threaten the European wine sector’s already fragile commercial position. Facing challenges from climate change, shifting consumer habits, and unpredictable U.S. tariff policies, European vintners — particularly from France, Italy, and Spain — are already struggling with overproduction. News of toxic contamination could damage the reputation of European wines on global markets, particularly in premium segments where the U.S. remains a key customer.
Ultimately, as contamination spreads and public awareness grows, European wineries may face growing pressure to fundamentally change how they cultivate grapes — or risk losing consumer trust altogether.
Read more about Hungarian wines HERE.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com