People in France warned over cadmium levels in everyday foods
Health agency warns of exposure to carcinogenic metal in foods such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes
People in France are ‘worryingly’ exposed to cadmium, found in everyday foods such as baguettes and croissants
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People in France are being urged to cut down on foods such as croissants, bread and pasta because of the risk of cadmium exposure.
France’s public health watchdog ANSES has warned that high levels of the carcinogenic metal are finding their way into common wheat-based foods because of its use in phosphate fertilisers.
A report published by the watchdog on Wednesday (March 25) highlights the “worrying situation” among the French population, with an increase in the proportion of people whose dietary exposure exceeds the recommended daily cadmium intake: 23% to 27% for children, and 1.4% to 1.7% for adults.
The agency noted that nearly half the population (47.6%) was found to have cadmium levels above the critical concentration threshold, set at 0.5 micrograms per gram of creatinine.
ANSES (l’Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire) also highlights results from other studies which show that contamination levels in France are three or four times higher than in North America and other European countries.
The report, which comes on the back of a two-year study, shows that diet is “by far the main source of exposure, accounting for up to 98% of cadmium intake in the non-smoking population.”
Which foods to cut down on?
Cadmium can be found in everyday foods such as bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, and pastries such as croissants.
As a result, ANSES is warning people in France to limit the consumption of sweet and savoury wheat-based products, including breakfast cereals, cakes and biscuits. Cadmium can also be found in products labelled Bio (organic).
Instead, people should eat more pulses such as lentils and chickpeas, and alternate food purchases sourced from different regions to avoid repeated exposure.
What is cadmium?
Cadmium is a soft, silvery-coloured metal found naturally in rocks and soils. Human activities such as farming increase its presence in the ground, as well as in the air and water sources.
The application of fertilisers such as phosphate-based mineral fertilisers and livestock manure is a source of cadmium in agricultural soils, explains ANSES, with plants and crops absorbing it through their roots.
The government was urged in the report to "act at the source" by lowering the legal limits for cadmium in phosphate fertilisers, which are used extensively in French farming.
ANSES called for new limits to be introduced "as soon as possible," stating that it was the only way to prevent the metal from finding its way into agricultural soils and from there into the food chain.
Cadmium is also emitted during waste incineration and battery recycling. Tobacco is another source of exposure to cadmium.
What risks are associated with cadmium exposure?
Cadmium exposure can cause or increase the risk of developing lung cancer.
It is also suspected of causing pancreatic, bladder, prostate and breast cancers.
It is a mutagen, meaning that it can permanently change genetic material, and can also cause reproductive problems.
“In the event of prolonged exposure, even at low oral doses, mainly through diet, cadmium causes kidney damage, which may eventually lead to kidney failure and bone fragility, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures,” states ANSES.
“Other adverse effects have also been identified, particularly on neurodevelopment and the cardiovascular system.”
The recent report confirms that long-term adverse effects linked to increased cadmium consumption are “likely to impact a growing proportion of the population if no measures are put in place to reduce exposure.”
