Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 5 hrs ago
Swiss survey finds high concern about pollutants in food
A survey of 1,366 people aged 16 and older found that six in 10 people in Switzerland worry about pollutants in food.
Microplastics caused the most concern, followed by pesticides and PFAS, often called “forever chemicals.”
But the substances people fear most are not always the best-understood health risks: scientists know comparatively little about the health effects of microplastics.
By contrast, the European Food Safety Authority classed bisphenol A as a health risk in 2023, and some other pollutants are classified as cancer-causing.
These substances can reach food through soil, animal fats, or packaging, and the risk depends on how much people take in and how often.
In 2025, just under 1% of tested meat, fish and egg samples exceeded PFAS limits; 2.5% of pesticide tests exceeded limits in 2024.
More than half of respondents say authorities are doing too little, while current limits are set for individual substances rather than combined exposure.
A survey found that six in ten people in Switzerland are concerned about pollutants in food.
Respondents were most concerned about microplastics, followed by pesticides and PFAS.
The survey also found that concern does not always match how much is known about a substance’s health risks.
More than half of respondents said authorities are doing too little to limit pollutants in food.
- Who
- MIS Trend surveyed 1,366 people aged 16 and over in German-speaking Switzerland, French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino.
- What
- The survey examined concern about pollutants in food and respondents’ knowledge of them.
- When
- The article was published on November 12, 2026; the survey date is not stated.
- Where
- German-speaking Switzerland, French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino.
- Why
- The survey was commissioned by Le Temps for the Forum Santé; the sources do not state a further reason.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The European Food Safety Authority classified bisphenol A as a health risk.
Pesticide levels exceeded limits in 2.5 percent of tested food samples.
PFAS levels exceeded limits in just under 1 percent of tested meat, fish and egg samples.
Bisphenol A was banned in food packaging.
Watson published its report on the survey.
- Survey sample
- 1,366 people aged 16 and over
- Most feared pollutant
- Microplastics: 76 percent
- Pesticides
- 73 percent were concerned
- PFAS
- 67 percent were concerned
- Authorities
- 53 percent said they do too little to limit pollutants in food
What people are saying
The familiarity of a pollutant often depends more on its recent media coverage than on its actual level of risk.