What's in the food we eat? The science behind our food choices.
What does healthy food mean? When can we call food safe? Which contaminants or pollutants might be present in our meals, and can pesticide residues be found on fruit and vegetables? How are PFAS, heavy metals, pesticides and fungicides detected? Overorganic offers accessible, science-based explanations of food safety, potential health effects and regulatory limits.
A library that keeps evolving
Overorganic is a scientific library dedicated to contaminants and pollutants that may be present in food. Its guides explore where unwanted substances come from, how they enter the food chain, their potential effects on health, and the regulations governing their control. The library continues to grow, with existing content updated as scientific knowledge advances.
These guides explain scientific knowledge and regulatory requirements. They do not replace test results for a specific food batch.
EXPLORE THE LIBRARY
PFAS in Food
What PFAS are, how they enter the food chain, which foods may contain them, their potential health effects and how the EU regulates them. A guide drawing on scientific studies and institutional sources.
Read the PFAS guide →Pesticides in Food
Pesticides on fruit, vegetables and other foods: how they are used, how residues can remain in food and how they are monitored. Ten chapters also explore health effects, EU legislation, laboratory testing and ways to reduce exposure.
Explore the pesticides guide →Fungicides in Food: Dithiocarbamates and Phosphonates
Fungicides used in agriculture may leave residues on fruit, vegetables and other foods. Ten chapters examine their uses, persistence, potential health effects, and the capabilities and limitations of laboratory testing, with a focus on dithiocarbamates, fosetyl-aluminium, phosphonates and phosphonic acid.
Explore the fungicides library →Metals and Heavy Metals in Food
Lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, nickel and other elements: how they enter food, which products may contribute to dietary exposure, and how laboratory results should be interpreted. Ten chapters distinguish detection, chemical forms, exposure and health risk, while covering EU maximum levels, official controls and prevention. “Heavy metals” is a familiar expression, but it is not a single, well-defined toxicological category.
Explore the metals library →Mycotoxins in Food
How mycotoxins develop, which foods may contain them, potential health effects, laboratory testing and European limits. Nine chapters on fungal toxins and food contamination.
Explore the mycotoxins library →Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Food
Environmental sources, smoking and cooking, food categories, health effects, benzo[a]pyrene, PAH4, analytical methods and European legislation. Nine chapters on PAHs in food.
Explore the PAHs library →Dioxins, Furans and PCBs in Food
From environmental sources to food-chain accumulation: affected foods, persistence in the body, health effects, toxic equivalents, testing and European controls. Nine chapters.
Explore the dioxins and PCBs library →BTEX and Volatile Organic Compounds in Food
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes and other volatile organic compounds: contamination routes, formation in some beverages, analytical testing, health effects and legislation. Nine chapters.
Explore the BTEX and VOCs library →Halogenated Organic Compounds in Food
Chlorinated paraffins, brominated flame retardants, chlorinated solvents and chloropropanols: sources, food exposure, health effects, analytical methods and European rules. Nine chapters.
Explore the halogenated compounds library →Other Food Contaminants
Ten chapters covering nitrates, nitrites, nitrosamines, chlorates, perchlorates, acrylamide, oil-refining contaminants, packaging migrants, microplastics, veterinary residues, emerging contaminants and alkaloids.
Explore the other contaminants library →Sources, clarity, and updates.
Each topic is supported by scientific sources, institutional documents, and regulatory references. We distinguish established evidence from open questions and update our content when necessary.
