News
21.11.2023 - Foods
Heavy metals in food
Particularly heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury can be harmful to health. They are found in animal and plant products because humans introduce them into the environment. This occurs due to agriculture, industry, and contamination from vehicle emissions or the food itself. Due to insufficient breakdown, heavy metals can accumulate in plants and animals and reach harmful concentrations there.
In older houses, water pipes may be made of lead. In addition, lead-containing dust from industrial emissions or shells and shell products.
Cadmium is mainly found in the soil. Particularly high concentrations are found in offal, seafood, algae, oilseeds such as flaxseeds or sesame seeds, certain mushrooms, and dark chocolate. However, grains and vegetables also contain cadmium, albeit in smaller amounts. Nevertheless, these products are consumed in larger quantities and thus make up a larger proportion of the total intake.
Arsenic accumulates particularly in rice and shellfish, shrimp, and fish.
There are two different compounds of mercury. On one hand, the harmful organically bound mercury such as methylmercury and on the other hand inorganic mercury. Mercury is mainly found in fish such as halibut, butterfish, and pike, but also in shellfish. In general, older fish and predatory fish are more highly contaminated. The inorganic compounds are found in fruits, vegetables, or mushrooms.
To protect consumers, food producers must adhere to legally mandated maximum levels for all four heavy metals in particularly contaminated products.
In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly conduct investigations for heavy metals. We provide you with fast and reliable results and are happy to advise you on all matters related to the subject of heavy metals.
If you have any questions, our customer advisors are available to assist you.
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