The report said people should, “limit the consumption of sweet and salty wheat products, such as breakfast cereals, cakes, biscuits”.
Carcinogen found in bread, pastries and cakes
The public has been urged to introduce more legumes such as lentils and chickpeas into their diets and eat a diverse range of foods sourced from different regions to avoid repeated exposure.
Researchers studied different possible sources of cadmium exposure, including food, water, air, dust, soil, cosmetics and smoking. Cadmium was classified as a carcinogen in France in 2012.
Diet was found to be the most common source, accounting for up to 98% of exposure in the non-smoking population. Tobacco was another source of excess cadmium levels.
The biggest dietary sources of the heavy metal were French staples – bread, pastries and cakes – with breakfast cereals, pasta, rice and potatoes.
Carne told Franceinfo: “The French levels are up to three or four times higher than those of other countries such as Belgium, England or Italy”.
Calling the situation “worrying”, Anses called on the French Government to drastically lower the maximum cadmium content of phosphate fertilisers, which accumulate in agriculture soil.
The permitted content in France is 90mg/kg of phosphate mineral fertiliser, while most European countries have a limit of 60mg/kg.
The agency also noted that some fertilisers authorised for use in organic farming contained cadmium.
Sign up to Herald Premium Editor’s Picks, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Editor-in-Chief Murray Kirkness picks the week’s best features, interviews and investigations. Sign up for Herald Premium here.
