An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but health professionals are worried about root vegetables and grains.
That’s the case in France at least, where doctors have raised over dangerous levels of cadmium found in staple foods.
France faces higher risk from cadmium than other countries
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal, known to damage kidneys and bone health. It’s also carcinogenic: exposed humans are more likely to develop cancer in the lung, endometrium, bladder and breast.
That’s why elevated levels in foods have doctors in France concerned. In recent times, high levels of cadmium have been found in cereals, bread, pasta and root vegetables.
A recent study by French doctors – URPS-Médecins libéraux – found cadmium in all 41 types of bread tested.
The French have a history of consuming high levels of cadmium through food. Research suggests French adults are exposed to three times as much cadmium as adults in Germany, and twice that of Italians. In kids, cadmium exposure is four times greater than that of American or Italian children.
How does cadmium end up in everyday foods?
So how does cadmium end up in France’s food supply chain? Doctors say the problem starts with phosphate fertilizers used on farms, when the fertilizer in question is made in other countries where cadmium levels are too high.
When these fertilizers are applied to soil, the cadmium gathers and enters the root systems of plants such as wheat and rice or root vegetables. From that point, cadmium is in the supply chain.
Since cadmium has a lifespan of 10-20 years, once consumed it accumulates in the liver or kidneys, with concentrations building over time.
Europe has tried to limit cadmium in food for years, but it’s still showing up in what consumers eat. Exposure is a concern for policymakers, who set new levels in 2014 for chocolate, baby food and formula, and processed cereals-based foods.
This was followed up in 2021 with new maximum levels for some fruits, vegetables, cereals and oilseeds.
How can France lower cadmium contamination in foods?
With cadmium levels in France clearly too high, doctors are taking a stand. They want the government to enforce a cadmium limit in fertilizers that aligns with the national food agency’s (ANSES) recommendations.
Unfortunately, even if ANSES’ guidance is adopted across the country, cadmium contamination may take decades to stabilise.
Health professionals are calling on the government to act now, “without further delay”, says Dr Meyvaert on behalf of URPS-Médecins libéraux. Dr Meyvaert is also advocating for greater education around the health risks of cadmium contamination. “We will not be able to say that we did not know. The time has come to find solutions.”