Heavy metals in Plant milk base

Quick read

Plant milk base in the HMI library has 37 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, uranium, Cu and Zn from 5 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 →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}^{4Ondřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, Eva Duborská · 2025Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsEuropean Food Research and TechnologyRead source →}^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read source →}

Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury and nickel and others, in 37 results from 5 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 →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}^{4Ondřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, Eva Duborská · 2025Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsEuropean Food Research and TechnologyRead source →}
Main drivers:
Plant milk base, as sold from laboratory-prepared had lead higher at 53 µg/kg, against 6.8 µg/kg for laboratory-prepared in the same study.^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read 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 →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}^{4Ondřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, Eva Duborská · 2025Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsEuropean Food Research and TechnologyRead source →}

Plant milk base overview

Plant milk base in the HMI library has 37 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, uranium, Cu and Zn from 5 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 →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}^{4Ondřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, Eva Duborská · 2025Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsEuropean Food Research and TechnologyRead source →}^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read source →} In the US Total Diet Study, plant milk base, as sold had a median lead result of 1.9 µg/kg across 3 composites from 2018–2020.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →} Its median cadmium result there was 1.3 µg/kg.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}

Begday et al. 2026 reported lead at 6.8 µg/kg (mean) in plant milk base, as sold from laboratory-prepared.^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read source →} Redan et al. 2023 reported cadmium at 3.9 µg/kg (mean) and total arsenic at 15.8 µg/kg (mean) in plant milk base, as sold from US retail, Chicago area.^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →} Higher results came from contaminated or exposed settings rather than ordinary supply. Plant milk base, as sold from laboratory-prepared had lead higher at 53 µg/kg, against 6.8 µg/kg for laboratory-prepared in the same study.^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read source →}

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

What counts as plant milk base

This page covers plant milk base, as sold (37 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 →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}^{4Ondřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, Eva Duborská · 2025Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsEuropean Food Research and TechnologyRead source →}^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read 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 plant milk base

The table holds every extracted plant milk base result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 37 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 →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}^{4Ondřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, Eva Duborská · 2025Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsEuropean Food Research and TechnologyRead source →}^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read 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 →}

0 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 8 rows have a direct same-study comparison, and the rest stay unrated with the reason recorded. 1 value from 1 source failed a check against their own source and are shown but not compared.^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read source →}

Comparison methods and scope

Each row is one statistic a source reports for one form of plant milk base, 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

Plant milk base 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)

6 findings · 4 studies
Plant milk base, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldZvěřina et al. 2025	all samples in categoryCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

13 findings · 4 studies
Plant milk base, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldZvěřina et al. 2025	all samples in categoryCollection date unreported	median.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

7 findings · 2 studies
Plant milk base, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.
Plant milk base, as soldRedan et al. 2023	US retail, Chicago areaCollection date unreported	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Plant milk base, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2021	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Plant milk base, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Plant milk base, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Plant milk base, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Plant milk base, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

3 findings · 1 study
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

3 findings · 1 study
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Plant milk base, as soldBegday et al. 2026	laboratory-preparedCollection 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 plant milk base Pb reference · Plant milk base, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI plant milk base Pb reference · Plant milk base, as sold. Plant milk base, 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	1.9	1.9
Alternative weighting	≤1	1.9	1.9

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 plant milk base, 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

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for plant milk base, as sold on this basis in the completed plant milk base 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:plant-milk-d6b2742d4178:ad47fd9e367d

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 plant milk base Cd reference · Plant milk base, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI plant milk base Cd reference · Plant milk base, as sold. Plant milk base, 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	≤1.3	≤1.95	1.3–2.3 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤1.3	≤1.95	1.3–2.3 (bounded)

10 reference units; 2 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	3	50%
Redan et al. 2023	7	50%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for plant milk base, 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

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:plant-milk-0a332081a506:25e881a2b46d

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 plant milk base tAs reference · Plant milk base, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI plant milk base tAs reference · Plant milk base, as sold. Plant milk base, 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	≤3.7	≤7.15	3.7–9.9 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤3.7	≤7.15	3.7–9.9 (bounded)

8 reference units; 2 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	3	50%
Redan et al. 2023	5	50%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for plant milk base, 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

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:plant-milk-db4b3a8fc306:14ffdb31e138

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 plant milk base iAs reference · Plant milk base, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI plant milk base iAs reference · Plant milk base, as sold. Plant milk base, 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	≤0.68	≤0.68	≤0.68
Alternative weighting	≤0.68	≤0.68	≤0.68

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 plant milk base, 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 plant milk base, as sold on this basis in the completed plant milk base 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:plant-milk-a74013f12a10:775d8a58cba2

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 plant milk base tHg reference · Plant milk base, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI plant milk base tHg reference · Plant milk base, as sold. Plant milk base, 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 plant milk base, 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

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for plant milk base, as sold on this basis in the completed plant milk base 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:plant-milk-03cb6637a91d:16a24ac5b715

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 plant milk base Ni reference · Plant milk base, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI plant milk base Ni reference · Plant milk base, as sold. Plant milk base, 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	≤20	23	25
Alternative weighting	≤20	23	25

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 plant milk base, 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

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for plant milk base, as sold on this basis in the completed plant milk base 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:plant-milk-b1430ee71935:090403af8a3e

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 plant milk base Cr reference · Plant milk base, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI plant milk base Cr reference · Plant milk base, as sold. Plant milk base, 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	≤25	≤25	≤25
Alternative weighting	≤25	≤25	≤25

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 plant milk base, 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

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for plant milk base, as sold on this basis in the completed plant milk base 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:plant-milk-1423e9e8d044:e90a9f6eac82

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 plant milk base U reference · Plant milk base, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI plant milk base U reference · Plant milk base, as sold. Plant milk base, 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	1.3	3.8	4.3
Alternative weighting	1.3	3.8	4.3

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 plant milk base, 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

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for plant milk base, as sold on this basis in the completed plant milk base 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:plant-milk-5451f2f714c8:02e6ac70ac7d

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 plant milk base

The evidence on how metals reach plant milk base comes from studies that compared exposed and ordinary settings. Plant milk base, as sold from laboratory-prepared had lead higher at 53 µg/kg, against 6.8 µg/kg for laboratory-prepared in the same study.^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read source →}

These are observational comparisons from single studies; the size of the difference depends on the site, metal and distance.

Which forms and regions measured lower

The HMI reference for cadmium in plant milk base, as sold pools 10 subgroup units from 2 sampling families, with a median of below 1.95 µg/kg and a middle half spanning below 1.3 (lower quartile) and between 1.3 and 2.3 µg/kg (upper quartile).^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →} For total arsenic in plant milk base, as sold, the reference median was below 7.15 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 3.7 to between 3.7 and 9.9 µg/kg across 8 units.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}

Processing, cooking and preparation

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

Mitigation for plant milk base

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

Avoiding exposed growing areas lowered the metal measured in the studies available, but no study measured the cost or supply effect of doing so.^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read source →} 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 plant milk base for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 1 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 7 µg/kg (Zvěřina et al. 2025), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{4Ondřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, Eva Duborská · 2025Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsEuropean Food Research and TechnologyRead source →} Reporting limits for cadmium ranged from 0.7 µg/kg (Zvěřina et al. 2025) to 2.3 µg/kg (Redan et al. 2023), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}^{4Ondřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, Eva Duborská · 2025Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsEuropean Food Research and TechnologyRead source →} Reporting limits for total arsenic ranged from 1 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 9.9 µg/kg (Redan et al. 2023), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}

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

Buying and verifying plant milk base

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

Exposure from plant milk base

No source in the library converted plant milk base 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 plant milk base was decided on its content: 5 occurrence extracted, 5 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.

Plant milk base FAQs

What heavy metals are found in plant milk base?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, uranium, Cu and Zn in plant milk base, 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 →}^{3Redan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, Jackson LS · 2023Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsJournal of Food Composition and AnalysisRead source →}^{4Ondřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, Eva Duborská · 2025Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsEuropean Food Research and TechnologyRead source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported inorganic arsenic in plant milk base, as sold from 40 results in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 0.68 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

How do heavy metals get into plant milk base?

In the studies available, plant milk base from contaminated or exposed settings carried more metal than plant milk base from the same study’s control.^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read source →} Plant milk base, as sold from laboratory-prepared had lead higher at 53 µg/kg, against 6.8 µg/kg for laboratory-prepared in the same study.^{5Inna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, Konstantin V. Kharin · 2026Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisIzvestiya KGTU (KSTU News)Read source →}

How much of the arsenic in plant milk base is inorganic?

Inorganic arsenic, the more toxic form, was measured in 1 result from 1 source, far fewer than total arsenic.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported inorganic arsenic in plant milk base, as sold from 40 results in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 0.68 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.^{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
FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsU.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA Total Diet Study · 2022 · www.fda.govDataset
Analysis of Eight Types of Plant-based Milk Alternatives from the United States Market for Target Minerals and Trace ElementsRedan BW, Zuklic J, Hryshko J, Boyer M, Wan J, Sandhu A, et al. · Journal of Food Composition and Analysis · 2023 · doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105457Peer-reviewed
Essential and toxic elements in plant-based dairy alternatives: implications for vegan dietsOndřej Zvěřina, Pavlína Kosečková, Pavel Coufalík, Dominika Michaličková, and Eva Duborská · European Food Research and Technology · 2025 · doi.org/10.1007/s00217-025-04775-1Peer-reviewed
Integral assessment of the environmental safety of plant-based milk alternatives based on heavy metal analysisInna V. Begday, Tamara A. Tsesar, and Konstantin V. Kharin · Izvestiya KGTU (KSTU News) · 2026 · doi.org/10.46845/1997-3071-2026-81-57-70Peer-reviewed

Sources

Browse Plant milk base 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 plant milk base record in the library: 5 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

Referenced by

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Food and Drug Administration

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Heavy metals in Plant milk base

Plant milk base overview

What counts as plant milk base

Heavy metal contamination profile of plant milk base

How metals reach plant milk base

Which forms and regions measured lower

Processing, cooking and preparation

Mitigation for plant milk base

Trade-offs and limits of controls

Testing plant milk base for metals

Buying and verifying plant milk base

Exposure from plant milk base

Evidence review and remaining gaps

Plant milk base FAQs

References

Sources

Update history

Related ingredients

Referenced by

Graph View