Traces of cadmium found in most Swiss foodstuffs

Cadmium, a toxic and carcinogenic heavy metal found in soils, is present in our food. A study by the French-speaking Swiss Consumer Federation has detected cadmium in 67 out of 90 everyday products that were tested. None of the products contained cadmium levels that exceeded safety standards, but it raises the question of the cumulative effect of small doses ingested over several weeks. Cadmium occurs naturally in certain rocks and is used in agriculture through phosphate fertilisers, which increases its concentration in the soil. There is therefore a risk of consuming small amounts every day through food. By accumulating in the body over decades, cadmium can damage the kidneys and weaken bones. This heavy metal has generated considerable controversy in France, but what about in Switzerland? The consumer watchdog had 90 foods, including breads, pastries, potatoes, pasta, chocolate, cereals and oat flakes, that were likely to contain cadmium analysed in the laboratory. There were no ...