Countryfile: Tom Heap discusses 'forever chemicals' in foods Countryfile viewers took to social media to fume after a feature by presenter Tom Heap was blasted for causing "hysteria". The BBC Sunday evening show was in England's largest remaining rainforest at Borrowdale Oakwoods on Sunday (August 18) and while in the area Tom investigated the potentially toxic chemicals that can end up in everyday food items without consumer's knowledge. He explained the toxins, known as "forever chemicals", can linger in the environment for hundreds of years.
"They can last for centuries in the environment and you can find them in every corner of our lives from non-stick pans to waterproof clothing and cosmetics," he said. Seeking out experts in the field for the in depth segment he discovered the pesticides used by growers could be the main source of chemicals, such as PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PDHS which are emerging in our foodstuff. One expert, Nick Mole from Pesticide Action Network UK, informed the presenter: "The issues of PFAS in agriculture as pesticides is a fairly new one.
"We only became aware of it last year, when our colleagues in Europe discovered there were 31 active substances approved for use there that can be classified as PFAS chemicals. READ MORE: Only Connect fans 'obsessed' with host's unusual pronunciation of pop star name Countryfile viewers took umbrage at a report by presenter Tom Heap (Image: BBC) "So when a pesticide or a PFAS pesticide has been used, it can often st.