Cadmium
cadmium, Cd, cadmio
What it is
Cadmium is a heavy metal contaminant that reaches food from the environment and accumulates in the body, especially in the kidneys.
Why BOTIA flags it
Cadmium accumulates in the kidneys and leaves the body so slowly that exposure adds up over decades. It reaches food from the soil — especially cereals, potatoes, leafy vegetables, shellfish and cocoa. People with low iron stores absorb more, and this occurs more often in women. JECFA set a monthly limit because what matters is the total over years, not one meal.
BOTIA CAN
- Show which declared foods can contribute to cadmium exposure, including cereals, potatoes, leafy vegetables, shellfish and cocoa.
- Explain that low iron stores can increase cadmium absorption and that this occurs more often in women.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Measure how much cadmium is actually present in a food from its ingredient list.
- Know a person's iron stores or calculate the cadmium accumulated from everything eaten over years.