Cream of wheat in the HMI library has 21 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, uranium and Co from 4 sources.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Survey 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 →
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Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel and chromium and others, in 21 results from 4 sources.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Survey 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 →
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Main drivers:
Form, basis and where the cream of wheat was sampled; reporting limits decide how many results are non-detects.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Survey 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 →
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Practical framing:
Ask for lot results with a quantification limit well below the limit that applies in the destination market.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Survey 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 →
Cream of wheat overview
Cream of wheat in the HMI library has 21 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, uranium and Co from 4 sources.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Survey 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 → WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in cream of wheat, cooked from 68 results in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 7 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source → In the US Total Diet Study, cream of wheat, cooked had a median lead result below 4 µg/kg across 3 composites from 2018–2020.2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →
Dabeka et al. 1995 reported lead at 6.8 µg/kg (median) in cream of wheat, as sold from 5 city composites.4Survey 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 → Spungen et al. 2024 reported cadmium at 4.7 µg/kg (mean) in cream of wheat, cooked from all samples.3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →
For a buyer the practical points are the form bought, the basis a result is reported on, where the cream of wheat came from and the laboratory’s reporting limit. Testing finds contamination but does not remove it.
What counts as cream of wheat
This page covers cream of wheat in 2 forms kept separate in every comparison: cream of wheat, cooked (11 results) and cream of wheat, as sold (10 results).1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Survey 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 →
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 cream of wheat
The table holds every extracted cream of wheat result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 21 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.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Survey 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 → Monitoring medians are HMI calculations from individual submissions; non-detects remain intervals between zero and the reporting limit and are never read as zero.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →
3 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 0 rows have a direct same-study comparison, and the rest stay unrated with the reason recorded.
Comparison methods and scope
Each row is one statistic a source reports for one form of cream of wheat, 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.
First displayed analyte: Lead: 7 findings from 4 sources. Each row retains its statistic and measurement basis.
Filter findings
18 of 18 findings · 8 analytes
About this table
| Food form | Collection scope | Finding (µg/kg) | Comparison | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3 findings · 3 studies | ||||
| Cream of wheat, cookedWHO GEMS/Food | PAHO2000–2017 | median. | ||
| Cream of wheat, cookedFDA Total Diet Study | 1 collection regions2018–2020 | median. | ||
| Cream of wheat, cookedSpungen et al. 2024 | all samples2018–2020 | not detected. | ||
3 findings · 1 study · 1 spread figure folded in | ||||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | 5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated | median. | ||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | 5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated | mean.Same samples: 13.7 µg/kg (maximum) | ||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | 5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated | min. | ||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | 5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated | max. | ||
3 findings · 3 studies | ||||
| Cream of wheat, cookedWHO GEMS/Food | PAHO2003–2017 | median. | ||
| Cream of wheat, cookedFDA Total Diet Study | 1 collection regions2018–2020 | median. | ||
| Cream of wheat, cookedSpungen et al. 2024 | all samples2018–2020 | mean. | ||
2 findings · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in | ||||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | 5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated | median. | ||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | 5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated | mean.Same samples: 15.9 µg/kg (minimum); 33.4 µg/kg (maximum) | ||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | 5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated | min. | ||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | 5 city composites1986–1988Basis not stated | max. | ||
1 finding · 1 study | ||||
| Cream of wheat, cookedFDA Total Diet Study | 1 collection regions2018–2020 | median. | ||
1 finding · 1 study | ||||
| Cream of wheat, cookedFDA Total Diet Study | 1 collection regions2018–2020 | median. | ||
1 finding · 1 study | ||||
| Cream of wheat, cookedFDA Total Diet Study | 1 collection regions2018–2020 | median. | ||
1 finding · 1 study | ||||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | Montreal composite1986–1988Basis not stated | sample value. | ||
1 finding · 1 study | ||||
| Cream of wheat, cookedFDA Total Diet Study | 1 collection regions2018–2020 | median. | ||
1 finding · 1 study | ||||
| Cream of wheat, cookedFDA Total Diet Study | 1 collection regions2018–2020 | median. | ||
1 finding · 1 study | ||||
| Cream of wheat, as soldDabeka et al. 1995 | Montreal composite1986–1988Basis not stated | 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 cream of wheat Pb reference · Cream of wheat, cooked
Reference and scope
HMI cream of wheat Pb reference · Cream of wheat, cooked. Cream of wheat, 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 | ≤4 | ≤4 | ≤7 |
| Alternative weighting | ≤4 | ≤4 | ≤7 |
21 reference units; 3 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.
| Contributing family | Reference units | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| WHO GEMS/Food | 17 | 33% |
| FDA Total Diet Study | 3 | 33% |
| Spungen et al. 2024 | 1 | 33% |
Methods
HMI pools subgroup medians for cream of wheat, 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
3 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:cream-of-wheat-58e46944bdd5:3d16f2703cb8
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 cream of wheat Cd reference · Cream of wheat, cooked
Reference and scope
HMI cream of wheat Cd reference · Cream of wheat, cooked. Cream of wheat, 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 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 6 |
| Alternative weighting | 4.6 | 4.9 | 6 |
18 reference units; 2 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.
| Contributing family | Reference units | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| WHO GEMS/Food | 15 | 50% |
| FDA Total Diet Study | 3 | 50% |
Methods
HMI pools subgroup medians for cream of wheat, 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
2 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:cream-of-wheat-555cccf31086:ccb4c34e4dc8
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 cream of wheat tAs reference · Cream of wheat, cooked
Reference and scope
HMI cream of wheat tAs reference · Cream of wheat, cooked. Cream of wheat, 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 | ≤3 | ≤3 | 4.8 |
| Alternative weighting | ≤3 | ≤3 | 4.8 |
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 cream of wheat, 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
FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cream of wheat, cooked on this basis in the completed cream of wheat 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
Reference version and interpretation
Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.
hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cream-of-wheat-9e2241750da8:071bbd0af95a
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 cream of wheat tHg reference · Cream of wheat, cooked
Reference and scope
HMI cream of wheat tHg reference · Cream of wheat, cooked. Cream of wheat, 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 | ≤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 cream of wheat, 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
FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cream of wheat, cooked on this basis in the completed cream of wheat 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
Reference version and interpretation
Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.
hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cream-of-wheat-a8bdb417f758:7c229184a8e6
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 cream of wheat Ni reference · Cream of wheat, cooked
Reference and scope
HMI cream of wheat Ni reference · Cream of wheat, cooked. Cream of wheat, 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 | ≤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 cream of wheat, 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
FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cream of wheat, cooked on this basis in the completed cream of wheat 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
Reference version and interpretation
Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.
hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cream-of-wheat-531806fe7d62:b6b16777a1c9
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 cream of wheat Cr reference · Cream of wheat, cooked
Reference and scope
HMI cream of wheat Cr reference · Cream of wheat, cooked. Cream of wheat, 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 | ≤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 cream of wheat, 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
FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cream of wheat, cooked on this basis in the completed cream of wheat 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
Reference version and interpretation
Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.
hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cream-of-wheat-4187ec2c5b65:8f7dd9e5846f
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 cream of wheat U reference · Cream of wheat, cooked
Reference and scope
HMI cream of wheat U reference · Cream of wheat, cooked. Cream of wheat, 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 | 2.7 | 4.3 | 5.5 |
| Alternative weighting | 2.7 | 4.3 | 5.5 |
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 cream of wheat, 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
FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for cream of wheat, cooked on this basis in the completed cream of wheat 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
Reference version and interpretation
Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.
hmi-pooled-reference-v2:cream-of-wheat-2489dc4ea3e0:89f0bb221002
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.
The source reports only a percentile, range or maximum for these samples, with no mean or median to place against the reference. Spread figures that do have a mean or median are shown on that row instead.
The result is below a reporting limit, and the range from zero to that limit crosses more than one band.
The HMI reference for this form has fewer than four units or no measurable spread, below the display minimum.
The result is on a basis (dry weight, or not stated) that no HMI reference for this form uses, so it cannot be placed.
No findings match these filters. Change the selection or reset to show all source findings.
How metals reach cream of wheat
No study in the library compared cream of wheat 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 cream of wheat, cooked pools 21 subgroup units from 3 sampling families, with a median of below 4 µg/kg and a middle half spanning below 4 (lower quartile) and below 7 µg/kg (upper quartile).1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source → For cadmium in cream of wheat, cooked, the reference median was 4.9 µg/kg, with a middle half from 4.6 to 6 µg/kg across 18 units.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →
Processing, cooking and preparation
No processing study for metals in this food is in the library yet.
Mitigation for cream of wheat
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 cream of wheat for metals
Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 3.3 µg/kg (Dabeka et al. 1995) to 3,000 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →4Survey 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 → Reporting limits for cadmium ranged from 1 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 1,000 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →
A useful lot result names the form, the basis and a quantification limit well below the limit that applies.
Buying and verifying cream of wheat
No maximum level for metals in cream of wheat was verified from primary text for this page; buyers should confirm the limit that applies in the destination market.
Exposure from cream of wheat
No source in the library converted cream of wheat 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 cream of wheat 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.
Cream of wheat FAQs
What heavy metals are found in cream of wheat?
The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, uranium and Co in cream of wheat, most often lead, cadmium and total arsenic.1GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Survey 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 → WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in cream of wheat, cooked from 68 results in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 7 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.1GEMS/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 exportsDataset
- FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsDataset
- Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Peer-reviewed
- Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988Peer-reviewed
Sources
Browse Cream of wheat 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 cream of wheat record in the library: 4 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.