It is about maximum limits for cadmium and lead imposed by the EU in cereals, baby food, vegetables, fruit, fish, but also other food products such as chocolate.
New limits on the content of cadmium and lead will be imposed in foods sold in the European Union starting from August 30. It is about cereals, baby food, vegetables, fruits, fish and other food products, according to Reuters Agerpres.
Cadmium and lead are toxic metals present in many food products. But below certain maximum levels up to which they are not considered dangerous to human health.
The European Commission has announced that, following expert advice, it has decided to reduce these maximum levels for a long list of food products in an attempt to reduce exposure to carcinogenic substances.
"We know that an unhealthy diet increases the risk of cancer. Today's decision aims to put consumers first by making our food safer and healthier," said the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides.
Among the main products to which the new maximum levels of cadmium will apply are: cereals (rye, barley, rice, wheat germ, quinoa), specific products based on cocoa and Chocolate, such as milk chocolate with <30% of total cocoa in dry solids, but also fruits and nuts, root vegetables, vegetables and herbs, mushrooms, oil seeds, etc.
The new stricter limits regarding the cadmium content will apply starting from August 31, and those regarding lead starting from August 30.
Food products containing these metals above the new limits, but which reached the market before the new rules came into force, will be able to be sold until the end of February 2022.
