Heavy metals in Cottage cheese

Quick read

Cottage cheese in the HMI library has 107 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, uranium, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, V, Se, Ba, mercury (Hg), Sr and Ti from 8 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →}^{5Adilbekov Z, Mustafina R, Suleimenov S, Serikova A, Zhuzzassarova G, Suranshiyev Z, Bainiyazov A · 2026Technogenic contamination of livestock- and fish-derived food products with heavy metals and radionuclides in industrial and post-nuclear regions of KazakhstanVeterinary World 2026, 19(3): 1052-1068Read source →}^{6Crupi R, Lo Turco V, Gugliandolo E, Nava V, Potortì AG, Cuzzocrea S, Di Bella G, Licata P · 2022Mineral Composition in Delactosed Dairy Products: Quality and Safety StatusFoods 2022, 11, 139Read source →}

Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel and chromium and others, in 107 results from 8 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →}
Main drivers:
Form, basis and where the cottage cheese 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 →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead 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 →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →}

Cottage cheese overview

Cottage cheese in the HMI library has 107 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, uranium, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, V, Se, Ba, Hg, Sr and Ti from 8 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →}^{5Adilbekov Z, Mustafina R, Suleimenov S, Serikova A, Zhuzzassarova G, Suranshiyev Z, Bainiyazov A · 2026Technogenic contamination of livestock- and fish-derived food products with heavy metals and radionuclides in industrial and post-nuclear regions of KazakhstanVeterinary World 2026, 19(3): 1052-1068Read source →}^{6Crupi R, Lo Turco V, Gugliandolo E, Nava V, Potortì AG, Cuzzocrea S, Di Bella G, Licata P · 2022Mineral Composition in Delactosed Dairy Products: Quality and Safety StatusFoods 2022, 11, 139Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in cottage cheese, as sold from 38 results in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 7 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} In the US Total Diet Study, cottage cheese, as sold had a median lead result below 4 µg/kg across 3 composites from 2018–2020.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}

Sarsembayeva et al. 2020 reported lead at 11.6 µg/kg (mean ± 10 SD) in cottage cheese, as sold from farm A, Almaty region.^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →} Across 2 other studies of ordinary farms and markets, reported cadmium means and medians with the basis not stated ranged from 0.32 µg/kg (Dabeka et al. 1995) to 28 µg/kg (Crupi et al. 2022).^{6Crupi R, Lo Turco V, Gugliandolo E, Nava V, Potortì AG, Cuzzocrea S, Di Bella G, Licata P · 2022Mineral Composition in Delactosed Dairy Products: Quality and Safety StatusFoods 2022, 11, 139Read source →}^{7Dabeka 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 cottage cheese came from and the laboratory’s reporting limit. Testing finds contamination but does not remove it.

What counts as cottage cheese

This page covers cottage cheese, as sold (107 results).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →}^{5Adilbekov Z, Mustafina R, Suleimenov S, Serikova A, Zhuzzassarova G, Suranshiyev Z, Bainiyazov A · 2026Technogenic contamination of livestock- and fish-derived food products with heavy metals and radionuclides in industrial and post-nuclear regions of KazakhstanVeterinary World 2026, 19(3): 1052-1068Read source →}^{6Crupi R, Lo Turco V, Gugliandolo E, Nava V, Potortì AG, Cuzzocrea S, Di Bella G, Licata P · 2022Mineral Composition in Delactosed Dairy Products: Quality and Safety StatusFoods 2022, 11, 139Read 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 cottage cheese

The table holds every extracted cottage cheese result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 107 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 →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →}^{5Adilbekov Z, Mustafina R, Suleimenov S, Serikova A, Zhuzzassarova G, Suranshiyev Z, Bainiyazov A · 2026Technogenic contamination of livestock- and fish-derived food products with heavy metals and radionuclides in industrial and post-nuclear regions of KazakhstanVeterinary World 2026, 19(3): 1052-1068Read source →}^{6Crupi R, Lo Turco V, Gugliandolo E, Nava V, Potortì AG, Cuzzocrea S, Di Bella G, Licata P · 2022Mineral Composition in Delactosed Dairy Products: Quality and Safety StatusFoods 2022, 11, 139Read 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 →}

13 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 14 rows have a direct same-study comparison, and the rest stay unrated with the reason recorded. 15 values from 1 source failed a check against their own source and are shown but not compared.^{5Adilbekov Z, Mustafina R, Suleimenov S, Serikova A, Zhuzzassarova G, Suranshiyev Z, Bainiyazov A · 2026Technogenic contamination of livestock- and fish-derived food products with heavy metals and radionuclides in industrial and post-nuclear regions of KazakhstanVeterinary World 2026, 19(3): 1052-1068Read source →}

Comparison methods and scope

Each row is one statistic a source reports for one form of cottage cheese, 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

Cottage cheese 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)

23 findings · 7 studies · 1 spread figure folded in
Cottage cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2000–2017	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region2018–2019	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-1)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-2)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-3)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-4)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-5)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region2018–2019	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-1)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-2)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-3)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Abai district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Akkol district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Aktogay district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Bukhar-Zhyrau district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Bulandy district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Zerenda district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	mean.Same samples: 3.2 µg/kg (minimum)
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	min.
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	max.

24 findings · 7 studies · 1 spread figure folded in
Cottage cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2005	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2011–2017	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region2018–2019	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-1)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-2)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-3)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-4)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-5)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region2018–2019	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-1)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-2)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-3)2018–2019	sample value.
Cottage cheese, as soldSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Abai district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Akkol district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Aktogay district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Bukhar-Zhyrau district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Bulandy district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Zerenda district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	mean.Same samples: 0.47 µg/kg (maximum)
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	min.
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated	max.

10 findings · 3 studies
Cottage cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-1)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-2)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-3)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-4)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-5)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-1)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-2)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-3)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	not detected.

17 findings · 3 studies
Cottage cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldPankiewicz 2012	producer A (code 7A)Collection date unreported	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldPankiewicz 2012	producer B (code 8B)Collection date unreported	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldPankiewicz 2012	producer C (code 9C)Collection date unreported	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldPankiewicz 2012	producer E (code 2E)Collection date unreported	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldPankiewicz 2012	producer E (code 3E)Collection date unreported	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldPankiewicz 2012	producer E (code 6E)Collection date unreported	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldPankiewicz 2012	producer F (code 3F)Collection date unreported	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldPankiewicz 2012	producer F (code 4F)Collection date unreported	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-1)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-2)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-3)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-4)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-5)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-1)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-2)2018–2019	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldSarsembayeva et al. 2020	farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-3)2018–2019	not detected.

3 findings · 3 studies
Cottage cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	Montreal composite1986–1988Basis not stated	sample value.

2 findings · 2 studies
Cottage cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

2 findings · 2 studies
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldDabeka et al. 1995	Montreal composite1986–1988Basis not stated	sample value.

7 findings · 2 studies
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Abai district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Akkol district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Aktogay district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Bukhar-Zhyrau district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Bulandy district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Zerenda district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

7 findings · 2 studies
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Abai district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Akkol district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Aktogay district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Bukhar-Zhyrau district, Karaganda region2024–2025Basis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Bulandy district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	not detected.
Cottage cheese, as soldAdilbekov et al. 2026	Zerenda district, Akmola region2024–2025Basis not stated	mean.
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Cottage cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

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 cottage cheese Pb reference · Cottage cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI cottage cheese Pb reference · Cottage cheese, as sold. Cottage cheese, 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	≤4	≤4	4.45–10.1 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤4	≤4	4.45–10.1 (bounded)

22 reference units; 4 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	10	25%
FDA Total Diet Study	3	25%
Sarsembayeva et al. 2020	8	25%
Spungen et al. 2024	1	25%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for cottage cheese, 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–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

4 sampling families with different designs; none is a probability sample of world supply. 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

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cottage-cheese-1d62fcc49adb:085b57a650c2

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 cottage cheese Cd reference · Cottage cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI cottage cheese Cd reference · Cottage cheese, as sold. Cottage cheese, 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	≤1.5	22.6–49.7 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤1	≤1.5	22.6–49.7 (bounded)

20 reference units; 4 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	8	25%
FDA Total Diet Study	3	25%
Sarsembayeva et al. 2020	8	25%
Spungen et al. 2024	1	25%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for cottage cheese, 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–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

4 sampling families with different designs; none is a probability sample of world supply. 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

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cottage-cheese-cd1ee70780ae:74b6150ccf1a

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 cottage cheese tAs reference · Cottage cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI cottage cheese tAs reference · Cottage cheese, as sold. Cottage cheese, 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	≤3	≤3
Alternative weighting	≤3	≤3	≤3

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	3	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for cottage cheese, 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–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cottage cheese, as sold on this basis in the completed cottage cheese 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

FDA Total Diet Study

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cottage-cheese-489de0c32a88:fe299affa222

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 cottage cheese tHg reference · Cottage cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI cottage cheese tHg reference · Cottage cheese, as sold. Cottage cheese, 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	≤1	≤1
Alternative weighting	≤1	≤1	≤1

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	3	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for cottage cheese, 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–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cottage cheese, as sold on this basis in the completed cottage cheese 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

FDA Total Diet Study

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cottage-cheese-5176b5fec77a:ca3cc740c603

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 cottage cheese Ni reference · Cottage cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI cottage cheese Ni reference · Cottage cheese, as sold. Cottage cheese, 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	≤40	≤40	≤40
Alternative weighting	≤40	≤40	≤40

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	3	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for cottage cheese, 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–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cottage cheese, as sold on this basis in the completed cottage cheese 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

FDA Total Diet Study

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cottage-cheese-d4e510a653c2:2e8167154e42

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 cottage cheese Cr reference · Cottage cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI cottage cheese Cr reference · Cottage cheese, as sold. Cottage cheese, 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	≤50	≤50	≤50
Alternative weighting	≤50	≤50	≤50

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	3	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for cottage cheese, 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–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cottage cheese, as sold on this basis in the completed cottage cheese 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

FDA Total Diet Study

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cottage-cheese-114154d21057:c67041a74f06

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 cottage cheese U reference · Cottage cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI cottage cheese U reference · Cottage cheese, as sold. Cottage cheese, 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	≤1	1.2
Alternative weighting	≤1	≤1	1.2

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	3	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for cottage cheese, 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–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cottage cheese, as sold on this basis in the completed cottage cheese 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

FDA Total Diet Study

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cottage-cheese-a517d6977ab2:736ec5df58d4

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 cottage cheese

No study in the library compared cottage cheese 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 cottage cheese, as sold pools 22 subgroup units from 4 sampling families, with a median of below 4 µg/kg and a middle half spanning below 4 (lower quartile) and between 4.45 and 10.1 µg/kg (upper quartile).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →} For cadmium in cottage cheese, as sold, the reference median was below 1.5 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 1 to between 22.6 and 49.7 µg/kg across 20 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →}

In one study, lead across 8 groups of cottage cheese ranged from 8.9 µg/kg (farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-1)) to 16.2 µg/kg (farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-5)); the lowest is the lowest observed in that study, not an established sourcing preference.^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →} In another study, total mercury across 8 groups of cottage cheese ranged from 40 µg/kg (producer C (code 9C)) to 230 µg/kg (producer A (code 7A)); the lowest is the lowest observed in that study, not an established sourcing preference.^{8Pankiewicz U · 2012Monitoring of total mercury level in selected dairy products from the south-east regions of PolandEcological Chemistry and Engineering ARead source →}

Processing, cooking and preparation

No study in the library measured the same cottage cheese before and after washing, peeling, drying or cooking for metals, so no processing effect can be stated. Heat does not destroy metals; cooking or drying changes a concentration by moving water or metal, not by removing the element.

Mitigation for cottage cheese

No control for metals in cottage cheese was measured in the library; lot testing against the applicable limit remains the verifiable step.

No study in this library has yet measured a way to lower heavy metals in cottage cheese; the results above show the levels measured, and lot testing against the applicable limit remains the verifiable check.

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 cottage cheese for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 4 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 3,000 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 →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →} Reporting limits for cadmium ranged from 0.16 µg/kg (Dabeka et al. 1995) to 1,000 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 →}^{7Dabeka 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 →}

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

Buying and verifying cottage cheese

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

Exposure from cottage cheese

No source in the library converted cottage cheese 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 cottage cheese was decided on its content: 8 occurrence extracted, 8 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.

Cottage cheese FAQs

What heavy metals are found in cottage cheese?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, uranium, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, V, Se, Ba, Hg, Sr and Ti in cottage cheese, most often lead, cadmium and total arsenic.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →}^{4Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in cottage cheese, as sold from 38 results in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 7 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Which origins or products of cottage cheese measured lowest?

In one study, lead across 8 groups of cottage cheese ranged from 8.9 µg/kg (farm K, Almaty region (sample K/1-5-1-1)) to 16.2 µg/kg (farm A, Almaty region (sample A/1-5-1-5)); the lowest is the lowest observed in that study, not an established sourcing preference.^{3Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, Zhumagulova SZ · 2020Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanVeterinary World 13(4):609-613Read source →} In another study, total mercury across 8 groups of cottage cheese ranged from 40 µg/kg (producer C (code 9C)) to 230 µg/kg (producer A (code 7A)); the lowest is the lowest observed in that study, not an established sourcing preference.^{8Pankiewicz U · 2012Monitoring of total mercury level in selected dairy products from the south-east regions of PolandEcological Chemistry and Engineering ARead 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
FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsU.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA Total Diet Study · 2022 · www.fda.govDataset
Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, KazakhstanSarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Utepova ZA, Biltebay AN, and Zhumagulova SZ · Veterinary World 13(4):609-613 · 2020 · doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.609-613Peer-reviewed
Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Spungen JH and et al. · Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A · 2024 · doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2024.2396910Peer-reviewed
Technogenic contamination of livestock- and fish-derived food products with heavy metals and radionuclides in industrial and post-nuclear regions of KazakhstanAdilbekov Z, Mustafina R, Suleimenov S, Serikova A, Zhuzzassarova G, Suranshiyev Z, et al. · Veterinary World 2026, 19(3): 1052-1068 · 2026 · doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2026.1052-1068Peer-reviewed
Mineral Composition in Delactosed Dairy Products: Quality and Safety StatusCrupi R, Lo Turco V, Gugliandolo E, Nava V, Potortì AG, Cuzzocrea S, et al. · Foods 2022, 11, 139 · 2022 · doi.org/10.3390/foods11020139Peer-reviewed
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
Monitoring of total mercury level in selected dairy products from the south-east regions of PolandPankiewicz U · Ecological Chemistry and Engineering A · 2012 · doi.org/10.2428/ecea.2012.19(01)014Peer-reviewed

Sources

Browse Cottage cheese 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 cottage cheese record in the library: 8 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

Graph View

1

GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exports

2

FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results

3

Heavy metal levels in milk and fermented milk products produced in the Almaty region, Kazakhstan

4

Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020

5

Technogenic contamination of livestock- and fish-derived food products with heavy metals and radionuclides in industrial and post-nuclear regions of Kazakhstan

6

Mineral Composition in Delactosed Dairy Products: Quality and Safety Status

Food and Drug Administration

7

Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988

8

Monitoring of total mercury level in selected dairy products from the south-east regions of Poland