Certified Group, the Melville, N.Y.-based food and environmental testing laboratory network, said Wednesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its validated analytical method for detecting perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in frozen clams — a development that positions the company as a go-to compliance resource for seafood importers facing heightened regulatory scrutiny.
The method was developed under direct guidance from the FDA and carries formal agency approval specifically for frozen clam matrices. Certified Group said the technique also extends to broader PFAS screening across nearly all seafood matrices, though the formal FDA imprimatur covers the frozen clam application. The company did not disclose the timeline for seeking expanded approvals or the capital invested in method development.
The approval arrives as seafood importers contend with escalating enforcement pressure tied to FDA Import Alert 99-48, which authorises detention without physical examination for shipments suspected of PFAS contamination. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — a class of synthetic chemicals linked to adverse health outcomes — have drawn intensifying regulatory focus globally, with the FDA accelerating action levels and import controls for seafood products sourced from regions with documented PFAS exposure.
For importers, the practical stakes are significant. A detained shipment under Import Alert 99-48 can trigger costly storage fees, spoilage risk and reputational damage with retail and foodservice buyers. Access to an FDA-approved testing method provides a documented pathway to request release of detained goods and to demonstrate proactive compliance — a distinction that matters in contract negotiations with major grocery chains and protein distributors. Certified Group's broader portfolio spans food safety, environmental and nutritional testing, giving clients a single-vendor option for multi-matrix PFAS programmes, according to the food safety testing sector overview published by this publication earlier this year.
The company did not provide revenue guidance linked to the new method or disclose client volume targets. The PFAS testing services market has drawn investment from several large contract laboratory operators as regulatory timelines tighten in both the U.S. and the European Union, where maximum residue levels for PFAS in food are under active revision.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
