On Tuesday 10 August, the European Commission adopted two amendments setting new maximum levels for lead and cadmium in foodstuffs, in order to reduce the presence of these carcinogenic contaminants in certain foods.
This change follows the study of new data on the subject, collected after the implementation of measures to reduce the presence of these two metals in several foods.
With regard to lead, the amended Regulation specifies, inter alia, that additional maximum levels should be set “for foodstuffs for which lower levels of lead are reasonably achievable, namely offal, certain foods for infants and young children, salt and wild fungi”. To help combat fraudulent practices, “such as the addition of lead chromate to turmeric”, the new regulation also calls for the establishment of maximum levels for spices.
The European Commission states that these decisions are the result of joint work with the Member States, the European Food Safety Authority and the food industry.
It also recalls that the reduction of carcinogenic contaminants in foodstuffs is one of the main commitments made in its recent European plan to fight cancer (see EUROPE 12650/1).
To consult the amendments and the list of affected commodities, for lead: https://bit.ly/3sHggcj; and for cadmium: https://bit.ly/2XK7Q8q (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)