Public health officials in France say French consumers are exposed to dangerous levels of cadmium through their intake of pasta, bread, potatoes, pastries, breakfast cereals, and chocolate. Cadmium is considered a highly toxic and carcinogenic metal.
New analyses say cadmium exposure through diet in France are three to four times higher than in most other European countries. About 47 percent of adults and nearly one in five children exceed safe levels, according to Le Monde. Cadmium accumulates in the body over time and is associated with serious health risks. The data point to dietary pathways as a sustained and pervasive source rather than a short-term spike.
Debate on organic agriculture
France’s public health agency, Anses, has described a population overexposed to cadmium primarily through food. It suggested that agricultural inputs may be part of the problem. The agency said some fertilizers permitted in organic systems may contain cadmium.
France's National Federation of Organic Agriculture (FNAB) pushed back. The organization rejects the linkage implied by the findings, pointing to stricter cadmium thresholds applied to fertilizers used in organic production, with limits below 60 mg/kg compared with up to 90 mg/kg on conventional farms. FNAB has cited a meta-analysis indicating that cadmium concentrations measured in organic foods are lower than in conventional counterparts. It also notes that contamination can stem from broader geological and industrial legacies that affect all farming systems.