Explained: Why the French are worried about cadmium in baguettes and cereal

"Nearly half of the French population last year had cadmium exposure levels exceeding reference values, France's National Agency for Health Security (ANSES) warned in March. It noted "worrying cadmium contamination at all ages, starting from a very young age". For non-smokers, this came primarily from consuming contaminated food including breakfast cereals, bread, croissants and other pastries, biscuits, rice and potatoes, it said."

"Cadmium is a chemical element naturally found in the ground at low levels, particularly in limestone-rich areas. But the concentration of the carcinogenic element can increase through deposits, including phosphate fertilisers used to grow crops that then end up on people's plates. French doctors last year begged the authorities to act, saying women and children were especially being contaminated and blaming "phosphate fertilisers containing too much cadmium"."

"France's top health authority in 2024 warned that "repeated exposure to low doses can be the cause of multiple health effects: on the kidneys, bones, respiratory system, nervous system, cardiovascular system, reproduction, and it can be carcinogenic". When it is inhaled, through smoking or in industrial settings, it can cause lung cancer, according to the World Health Organization. Ingesting too much of the toxin may also cause cancers of the kidney and prostate, it says."

"France is mulling two ways to help: testing people to get a better measure of how widespread contamination is, and regulating. The goal is to prevent people from ingesting too much of the heavy metal cadmium after warnings that breakfast cereal and baguettes could be contaminated with the toxin."

Cadmium is a naturally occurring chemical element found in low levels in the ground, especially in limestone-rich areas. Its concentration can rise through deposits, including phosphate fertilisers used to grow crops that later enter the food supply. France’s health agency warned that nearly half of the population had cadmium exposure levels above reference values, with contamination occurring at all ages and starting from a very young age. For non-smokers, exposure mainly comes from eating contaminated foods such as breakfast cereals, bread, croissants and pastries, biscuits, rice, and potatoes. Repeated low-dose exposure can affect kidneys, bones, respiratory and nervous systems, cardiovascular health, reproduction, and can be carcinogenic. France is considering testing people and regulating sources to reduce ingestion.

Read at The Local France