Heavy metals in Baked beans

Quick read

Baked beans in the HMI library has 35 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, tin, Co, Cu, Fe and Zn from 4 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}^{3Suleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, Gogori IB · 2019Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansInternational Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019)Read source →}^{4Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD, Bradley P · 2003Survey of total mercury in total diet food composites and an estimation of the dietary intake of mercury by adults and children from two Canadian cities, 1998-2000Food Additives & ContaminantsRead source →}

Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel and chromium and others, in 35 results from 4 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}^{3Suleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, Gogori IB · 2019Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansInternational Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019)Read source →}^{4Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD, Bradley P · 2003Survey of total mercury in total diet food composites and an estimation of the dietary intake of mercury by adults and children from two Canadian cities, 1998-2000Food Additives & ContaminantsRead source →}
Main drivers:
Form, basis and where the baked beans was sampled; reporting limits decide how many results are non-detects.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}^{3Suleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, Gogori IB · 2019Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansInternational Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019)Read source →}^{4Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD, Bradley P · 2003Survey of total mercury in total diet food composites and an estimation of the dietary intake of mercury by adults and children from two Canadian cities, 1998-2000Food Additives & ContaminantsRead source →}
Practical framing:
Ask for lot results with a quantification limit well below the limit that applies in the destination market.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}^{3Suleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, Gogori IB · 2019Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansInternational Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019)Read source →}^{4Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD, Bradley P · 2003Survey of total mercury in total diet food composites and an estimation of the dietary intake of mercury by adults and children from two Canadian cities, 1998-2000Food Additives & ContaminantsRead source →}

Baked beans overview

Baked beans in the HMI library has 35 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, tin, Co, Cu, Fe and Zn from 4 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}^{3Suleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, Gogori IB · 2019Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansInternational Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019)Read source →}^{4Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD, Bradley P · 2003Survey of total mercury in total diet food composites and an estimation of the dietary intake of mercury by adults and children from two Canadian cities, 1998-2000Food Additives & ContaminantsRead source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in baked beans, as sold from 44 results in 2 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 4 to 4.08 µg/kg.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For cadmium, GEMS/Food gave subgroup medians from 3.67 to 5.11 µg/kg from 33 results.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Dabeka et al. 1995 reported lead at 79.7 µg/kg (median) and cadmium at 2.96 µg/kg (median) in baked beans, cooked from 5 city composites.^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}

For a buyer the practical points are the form bought, the basis a result is reported on, where the baked beans came from and the laboratory’s reporting limit. Testing finds contamination but does not remove it.

What counts as baked beans

This page covers baked beans in 2 forms kept separate in every comparison: baked beans, cooked (22 results) and baked beans, as sold (13 results).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}^{3Suleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, Gogori IB · 2019Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansInternational Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019)Read source →}^{4Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD, Bradley P · 2003Survey of total mercury in total diet food composites and an estimation of the dietary intake of mercury by adults and children from two Canadian cities, 1998-2000Food Additives & ContaminantsRead source →}

Results stay on the basis each source reports: as sold or fresh weight, dry weight, or unstated. Dry-weight, as-sold and unstated results are never pooled, and no moisture conversion is applied.

Heavy metal contamination profile of baked beans

The table holds every extracted baked beans result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 35 rows in all, grouped by metal and form; percentiles, ranges and maxima for the same samples as a mean or median are shown on that row.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}^{3Suleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, Gogori IB · 2019Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansInternational Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019)Read source →}^{4Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD, Bradley P · 2003Survey of total mercury in total diet food composites and an estimation of the dietary intake of mercury by adults and children from two Canadian cities, 1998-2000Food Additives & ContaminantsRead source →} Monitoring medians are HMI calculations from individual submissions; non-detects remain intervals between zero and the reporting limit and are never read as zero.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

4 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 6 rows have a direct same-study comparison, and the rest stay unrated with the reason recorded. 2 values from 1 source failed a check against their own source and are shown but not compared.^{3Suleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, Gogori IB · 2019Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansInternational Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019)Read source →}

Comparison methods and scope

Each row is one statistic a source reports for one form of baked beans, group and metal; percentiles, ranges and maxima reported for the same samples as a mean or median are shown on that row. Different forms and preparation states are kept apart, and dry-weight results never share a reference with as-sold or fresh-weight results. Ratings place a result against an HMI reference built from monitoring results and ordinary-setting medians for the same form and basis. Same-study contrasts compare a contaminated or treated site with its control, targeted with random sampling, a prepared form with the unprocessed one, or one group of a study with the median of its other groups. Held rows failed a check against their own source and are shown but not compared.

About this table

Food formCollection scopeFindingComparisonEvidence

Baked beans findings from monitoring programmes, total diet studies and every extracted field, market and contaminated-site study, in µg/kg with each source’s form, basis, statistic and censoring retained.
Food form	Collection scope	Finding (µg/kg)

7 findings · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	median.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	mean.Same samples: 4.6 µg/kg (minimum); 179 µg/kg (maximum)
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	min.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	max.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	Halifax 19861986–1988Basis not stated	sample value.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	Montreal 19881986–1988Basis not stated	sample value.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	Toronto 19881986–1988Basis not stated	sample value.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	Vancouver 19871986–1988Basis not stated	sample value.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	Winnipeg 19871986–1988Basis not stated	sample value.
5 findings · 1 study
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2003–2015As sold / fresh	median.
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2013As sold / fresh	median.
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2009–2016As sold / fresh	median.
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000–2008As sold / fresh	median.
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2013As sold / fresh	median.

3 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Baked beans, cookedSuleiman et al. 2019	Mairi Kuwait, Jere LGA, Borno StateCollection date unreportedDry weight	sample value.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	median.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	mean.Same samples: 2.03 µg/kg (minimum); 30.6 µg/kg (maximum)
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	min.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	max.
3 findings · 1 study
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO1999–2018As sold / fresh	median.
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2014As sold / fresh	median.
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000–2008As sold / fresh	median.

2 findings · 1 study
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2009–2014As sold / fresh	median.
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000–2008As sold / fresh	median.

2 findings · 1 study
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 2003	Ottawa composite (retail Oct-Nov 2000)1998–2000As sold / fresh	sample value.
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 2003	Whitehorse composite (retail Jan-Feb 1998)1998–2000As sold / fresh	not detected.
2 findings · 1 study
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2014As sold / fresh	median.
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000–2008As sold / fresh	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	Montreal composite1986–1988Basis not stated	sample value.

1 finding · 1 study
Baked beans, cookedSuleiman et al. 2019	Mairi Kuwait, Jere LGA, Borno StateCollection date unreportedDry weight	sample value.

1 finding · 1 study
Baked beans, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000As sold / fresh	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Baked beans, cookedDabeka et al. 1995	Montreal composite1986–1988Basis not stated	sample value.

1 finding · 1 study
Baked beans, cookedSuleiman et al. 2019	Mairi Kuwait, Jere LGA, Borno StateCollection date unreportedDry weight	sample value.

1 finding · 1 study
Baked beans, cookedSuleiman et al. 2019	Mairi Kuwait, Jere LGA, Borno StateCollection date unreportedDry weight	sample value.

1 finding · 1 study
Baked beans, cookedSuleiman et al. 2019	Mairi Kuwait, Jere LGA, Borno StateCollection date unreportedDry weight	sample value.

Shared dataset methods and interpretation

Source summaries retain their original statistic, material, basis and censoring. Each source drawer identifies methods and overlapping samples. No matched reference or pooled distribution is inferred.

HMI baked beans Pb reference · Baked beans, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI baked beans Pb reference · Baked beans, as sold. Baked beans, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	1.15–2.15 (bounded)	3.46–4 (bounded)	5.53–5.77 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	1.15–2.15 (bounded)	3.46–4 (bounded)	5.53–5.77 (bounded)

15 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	15	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for baked beans, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 to Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for baked beans, as sold on this basis in the completed baked beans ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

WHO GEMS/Food

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:baked-beans-02d35f9ddb3e:90ba5a4bc3bd

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI baked beans Cd reference · Baked beans, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI baked beans Cd reference · Baked beans, as sold. Baked beans, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	3.24–3.27 (bounded)	3.63–3.72 (bounded)	3.8–3.88 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	3.24–3.27 (bounded)	3.63–3.72 (bounded)	3.8–3.88 (bounded)

17 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	17	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for baked beans, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 to Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for baked beans, as sold on this basis in the completed baked beans ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

WHO GEMS/Food

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:baked-beans-3e335fae23b2:209a3bb52239

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI baked beans tAs reference · Baked beans, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI baked beans tAs reference · Baked beans, as sold. Baked beans, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤2	≤3.5	≤5
Alternative weighting	≤2	≤3.5	≤5

2 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	2	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for baked beans, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 to Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for baked beans, as sold on this basis in the completed baked beans ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

WHO GEMS/Food

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:baked-beans-1eb7054dd9af:309323fd81ac

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI baked beans tHg reference · Baked beans, cooked

Reference and scope

HMI baked beans tHg reference · Baked beans, cooked. Baked beans, cooked; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤0.16	0.12–0.2 (bounded)	0.24
Alternative weighting	≤0.16	0.12–0.2 (bounded)	0.24

2 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
Dabeka et al. 2003	2	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for baked beans, cooked on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 to Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

Dabeka et al. 2003 is the only compatible sampling family for baked beans, cooked on this basis in the completed baked beans ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Dabeka et al. 2003

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:baked-beans-1464f959e002:a6ad60ea0c29

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI baked beans tHg reference · Baked beans, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI baked beans tHg reference · Baked beans, as sold. Baked beans, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤5	≤5	≤5
Alternative weighting	≤5	≤5	≤5

1 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	1	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for baked beans, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 to Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for baked beans, as sold on this basis in the completed baked beans ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

WHO GEMS/Food

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:baked-beans-d280f2afe4e7:2f93b8116a53

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI baked beans Cu reference · Baked beans, cooked, dry weight

Reference and scope

HMI baked beans Cu reference · Baked beans, cooked, dry weight. Baked beans, cooked; Dry weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	16000	16000	16000
Alternative weighting	16000	16000	16000

1 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
Suleiman et al. 2019	1	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for baked beans, cooked on a dry weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 to Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

Suleiman et al. 2019 is the only compatible sampling family for baked beans, cooked on this basis in the completed baked beans ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Suleiman et al. 2019

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:baked-beans-4a05d9163fa9:6471face11cd

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI baked beans Fe reference · Baked beans, cooked, dry weight

Reference and scope

HMI baked beans Fe reference · Baked beans, cooked, dry weight. Baked beans, cooked; Dry weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	24000	24000	24000
Alternative weighting	24000	24000	24000

1 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
Suleiman et al. 2019	1	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for baked beans, cooked on a dry weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 to Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

Suleiman et al. 2019 is the only compatible sampling family for baked beans, cooked on this basis in the completed baked beans ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Suleiman et al. 2019

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:baked-beans-18e6c551879d:07018f9c83a0

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI baked beans Zn reference · Baked beans, cooked, dry weight

Reference and scope

HMI baked beans Zn reference · Baked beans, cooked, dry weight. Baked beans, cooked; Dry weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	25000	25000	25000
Alternative weighting	25000	25000	25000

1 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
Suleiman et al. 2019	1	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for baked beans, cooked on a dry weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 to Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

Suleiman et al. 2019 is the only compatible sampling family for baked beans, cooked on this basis in the completed baked beans ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Suleiman et al. 2019

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:baked-beans-f33a725f7f51:d6ba59fdfa7b

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

How metals reach baked beans

No study in the library compared baked beans from contaminated and ordinary settings, so the routes by which metals reach it are not measured here.

Which forms and regions measured lower

The HMI reference for lead in baked beans, as sold pools 15 subgroup units from 1 sampling family, with a median of between 3.46 and 4 µg/kg and a middle half spanning between 1.15 and 2.15 (lower quartile) and between 5.53 and 5.77 µg/kg (upper quartile).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For cadmium in baked beans, as sold, the reference median was between 3.63 and 3.72 µg/kg, with a middle half from between 3.24 and 3.27 to between 3.8 and 3.88 µg/kg across 17 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, baked beans, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in PAHO (4 µg/kg) and the highest in PAHO (4.08 µg/kg); reporting regions are markets, not growing areas.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

In one study, lead across 5 groups of baked beans ranged from 4.6 µg/kg (Toronto 1988) to 179 µg/kg (Winnipeg 1987); the lowest is the lowest observed in that study, not an established sourcing preference.^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}

Processing, cooking and preparation

No processing study for metals in this food is in the library yet.

Mitigation for baked beans

Lot testing against the applicable limit is the check that can be verified.

No measured way to lower metals in this food is in the library yet.

Trade-offs and limits of controls

Metals do not move together, so a lot that passes a lead limit says little about cadmium, arsenic or nickel unless those are tested as well.

Testing baked beans for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 1 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) to 90 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} Reporting limits for cadmium ranged from 1 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) to 5 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} Reporting limits for total arsenic were 5 µg/kg where sources stated them.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

A useful lot result names the form, the basis and a quantification limit well below the limit that applies.

Buying and verifying baked beans

No maximum level for metals in baked beans was verified from primary text for this page; buyers should confirm the limit that applies in the destination market.

Exposure from baked beans

No source in the library converted baked beans concentrations into a verified estimate of intake for a defined population. Concentrations describe the food, not individual risk.

Evidence review and remaining gaps

Every source record that names baked beans was decided on its content: 4 occurrence extracted, 4 records in all. The occurrence table renders every extracted result; held values remain visible with their reason.

References identify the sources used in these answers. The Sources index preserves additional discovery links; inclusion there does not mean a source has been reviewed for this assessment. Corrections, completed searches, new direct evidence and changes in requirements should reopen the relevant answer.

Baked beans FAQs

What heavy metals are found in baked beans?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, tin, Co, Cu, Fe and Zn in baked beans, most often lead, cadmium and total arsenic.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD · 1995Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Journal of AOAC InternationalRead source →}^{3Suleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, Gogori IB · 2019Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansInternational Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019)Read source →}^{4Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD, Bradley P · 2003Survey of total mercury in total diet food composites and an estimation of the dietary intake of mercury by adults and children from two Canadian cities, 1998-2000Food Additives & ContaminantsRead source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in baked beans, as sold from 44 results in 2 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 4 to 4.08 µg/kg.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Which regions report the lowest levels in baked beans?

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, baked beans, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in PAHO (4 µg/kg) and the highest in PAHO (4.08 µg/kg); reporting regions are markets, not growing areas.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

References

Works cited on this page, in citation-number order. See Sources for this page’s source inventory. Each title links to a source record with bibliographic details, reported findings, and document provenance.

GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsWorld Health Organization · GEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme · 2026 · extranet.who.intDataset
Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Dabeka RW and McKenzie AD · Journal of AOAC International · 1995 · academic.oup.comPeer-reviewed
Determination of some heavy metals in baked beansSuleiman HM, Gimba SN, Adamu B, and Gogori IB · International Journal of Chemical and Biological Sciences 1(2):05-07 (2019) · 2019 · doi.org/10.33545/26646765.2019.v1.i2a.8Peer-reviewed
Survey of total mercury in total diet food composites and an estimation of the dietary intake of mercury by adults and children from two Canadian cities, 1998-2000Dabeka RW, McKenzie AD, and Bradley P · Food Additives & Contaminants · 2003 · doi.org/10.1080/0265203031000119034Peer-reviewed

Sources

Browse Baked beans Sources for sources cited on this page and additional discovery candidates. The searchable index distinguishes verified citation use from discovery relationships whose relevance has not been established.

Update history

22 October 2026: Rebuilt from every baked beans record in the library: 4 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

Referenced by

Legumes & pulses

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Food Additives

Heavy metals in Baked beans

Baked beans overview

What counts as baked beans

Heavy metal contamination profile of baked beans

How metals reach baked beans

Which forms and regions measured lower

Processing, cooking and preparation

Mitigation for baked beans

Trade-offs and limits of controls

Testing baked beans for metals

Buying and verifying baked beans

Exposure from baked beans

Evidence review and remaining gaps

Baked beans FAQs

References

Sources

Update history

Related ingredients

Referenced by

Graph View