FSA calls for more research on certain metals in food

foodproductiondaily.com: "A newly-released study indicates that levels of most metals in UK foods are falling or remain stable; but the FSA says there is a need for more research on aluminium, barium and manganese, which bucked the trend.
A number of different metals occur in food, some of which – like copper, chromium, selenium and zinc – play an important health role but are toxic at high levels. Others play not useful function for humans.

The metals end up in food through a variety of routes, be it environmental through pollution, agricultural practices, or manufacturing and packaging practices.

The study, which was conducted by the Food Standards Agency’s Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) in 2006, studied 24 elements including metals in samples of 20 different food groups, bought in 24 randomly selected UK towns.

The aim was to estimate the dietary exposures of the elements for UK consumers.

The COT concluded that there were no specific health concerns associated with the findings, which showed that levels of most of the elements were the same or lower than in 2000, the last time the study was done.

However it did note a need for more research on specific metals of concern – aluminium, barium and manganese."

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