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Mar 12, 2018 - Analytics

Heavy metals in edible mushrooms?

Wild and cultivated mushrooms are almost available year-round in retail establishments and restaurants today, and frozen products are also available. They are regularly officially inspected.

"Fortunately, in the years 2016 and 2017, none of the 70 samples of fresh cultivated and wild mushrooms examined had a noteworthy contamination with heavy metals," summarizes Frerk Feldhusen, Director of the State Office for Agriculture, Food Safety, and Fisheries (LALLF) in Rostock.

From the retail and wholesale trade, 51 samples of cultivated mushrooms (30 x cultivated button mushrooms, 10 x King Oyster mushrooms, 8 x Oyster mushrooms, 3 x Shiitake) as well as 19 samples of wild mushrooms, all chanterelles, were taken and analyzed by LALLF experts. The elements lead, cadmium, and mercury were tested.

Mushrooms absorb heavy metals through the mycelium (root network) from their nutrient substrate or the soil. They naturally filter them out and accumulate them in their fruiting bodies.
Wild mushrooms may have higher levels of cadmium and mercury compared to cultivated mushrooms depending on the soil condition. The uptake of the elements varies greatly depending on the type of mushroom and appears in even higher concentrations in dried edible mushrooms.  

"Those who regularly eat fresh wild mushrooms should, according to the recommendation of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, enjoy no more than 200 to 250 g per week. For children, lower amounts apply according to their body weight," emphasizes Feldhusen. "There are no concerns for occasional consumption of larger quantities."

In Regulation (EC) 1881/2006 of the Commission setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs, a maximum content of 0.3 mg/kg for lead and 0.2 mg/kg for cadmium is established for cultivated mushrooms. Wild mushrooms have a maximum content limit of 1.0 mg/kg cadmium.

In our Tentamus laboratories, we routinely conduct tests for heavy metals. We provide you with fast and reliable results.

Source: freshplaza.de