Heavy metals in Pork bacon

Quick read

Pork bacon in the HMI library has 105 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, uranium, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Se, Ba, CrIII, Mg, Mo and Tl 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 →}^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{4Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{5Spungen 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 →}^{6Lukáčová A, Lopašovský Ľ, Kňažická Z, Golian J · 2015CONCENTRATION OF CADMIUM IN MEAT AND SELECTED MEATS PRODUCTSJournal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences 4 (special issue 3), 102-105Read source →}

Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury and nickel and others, in 105 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 →}^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{4Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}
Main drivers:
Form, basis and where the pork bacon 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 →}^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{4Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read 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 →}^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{4Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}

Pork bacon overview

Pork bacon in the HMI library has 105 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, uranium, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Se, Ba, CrIII, Mg, Mo and Tl 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 →}^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{4Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{5Spungen 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 →}^{6Lukáčová A, Lopašovský Ľ, Kňažická Z, Golian J · 2015CONCENTRATION OF CADMIUM IN MEAT AND SELECTED MEATS PRODUCTSJournal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences 4 (special issue 3), 102-105Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in pork bacon, as sold from 238 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 3.8 to 9.14 µg/kg.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} In the US Total Diet Study, pork bacon, cooked had a median lead result below 4 µg/kg across 27 composites from 2017–2020.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}

Across 2 other studies of ordinary farms and markets, reported lead means and medians on an as-sold or fresh-weight basis ranged from 2.3 µg/kg (Spungen et al. 2024) to 3.93 µg/kg (Bilandžić et al. 2020).^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{5Spungen 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, 2 studies on an as-sold or fresh-weight basis reported means and medians from 1 µg/kg (Bilandžić et al. 2020) to 1.9 µg/kg (Spungen et al. 2024).^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{5Spungen 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 a buyer the practical points are the form bought, the basis a result is reported on, where the pork bacon came from and the laboratory’s reporting limit. Testing finds contamination but does not remove it.

What counts as pork bacon

This page covers pork bacon in 2 forms kept separate in every comparison: pork bacon, as sold (96 results) and pork bacon, cooked (9 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 →}^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{4Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{5Spungen 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 →}^{6Lukáčová A, Lopašovský Ľ, Kňažická Z, Golian J · 2015CONCENTRATION OF CADMIUM IN MEAT AND SELECTED MEATS PRODUCTSJournal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences 4 (special issue 3), 102-105Read 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 pork bacon

The table holds every extracted pork bacon result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 105 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 →}^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{4Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{5Spungen 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 →}^{6Lukáčová A, Lopašovský Ľ, Kňažická Z, Golian J · 2015CONCENTRATION OF CADMIUM IN MEAT AND SELECTED MEATS PRODUCTSJournal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences 4 (special issue 3), 102-105Read 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 →}

5 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 2 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 pork bacon, 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

Pork bacon 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)

10 findings · 3 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2019	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2017	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2000–2017	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2014–2016	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2015	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2009–2014	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000–2008	median.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 0.81 µg/kg (minimum); 10.5 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	not detected.
2 findings · 2 studies
Pork bacon, cookedFDA Total Diet Study	6 collection regions2017–2020	median.
Pork bacon, cookedSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020	mean.

15 findings · 4 studies · 6 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2019	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2017	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2004	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2003–2017	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2015	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2014	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000–2008	median.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 0.94 µg/kg (minimum); 1.05 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	not detected.
Pork bacon, as soldLukáčová et al. 2015	domestic production, central Slovakia2013Basis not stated	median.
Pork bacon, as soldLukáčová et al. 2015	domestic production, central Slovakia2013Basis not stated	mean.Same samples: 1.3 µg/kg (minimum); 32.4 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldLukáčová et al. 2015	domestic production, central Slovakia2013Basis not stated	min.
Pork bacon, as soldLukáčová et al. 2015	domestic production, central Slovakia2013Basis not stated	max.
Pork bacon, as soldLukáčová et al. 2015	foreign production, countries of West Europe2013Basis not stated	median.
Pork bacon, as soldLukáčová et al. 2015	foreign production, countries of West Europe2013Basis not stated	mean.Same samples: 12.4 µg/kg (minimum); 65.3 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldLukáčová et al. 2015	foreign production, countries of West Europe2013Basis not stated	min.
Pork bacon, as soldLukáčová et al. 2015	foreign production, countries of West Europe2013Basis not stated	max.
2 findings · 2 studies
Pork bacon, cookedFDA Total Diet Study	6 collection regions2017–2020	median.
Pork bacon, cookedSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020	mean.

8 findings · 3 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2008–2022	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2014	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2013	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2009–2014	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000–2008	median.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 1.33 µg/kg (minimum); 30.2 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	not detected.
1 finding · 1 study
Pork bacon, cookedFDA Total Diet Study	6 collection regions2017–2020	median.

2 findings · 2 studies
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2022	median.
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	not detected.

6 findings · 2 studies
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2016	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2017	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2014	median.
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000–2008	median.
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	not detected.
1 finding · 1 study
Pork bacon, cookedFDA Total Diet Study	6 collection regions2017–2020	median.

4 findings · 3 studies · 4 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 6.67 µg/kg (minimum); 89.4 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	sample value.
Pork bacon, as soldHan et al. 2024	Meat and products (Chinese bacon)2018–2019Basis not stated	median.
Pork bacon, as soldHan et al. 2024	Meat and products (Chinese bacon)2018–2019Basis not stated	mean.Same samples: 2–3,000 µg/kg (range); 1,090 µg/kg (percentile)
Pork bacon, as soldHan et al. 2024	Meat and products (Chinese bacon)2018–2019Basis not stated	range.
Pork bacon, as soldHan et al. 2024	Meat and products (Chinese bacon)2018–2019Basis not stated	percentile.
1 finding · 1 study
Pork bacon, cookedFDA Total Diet Study	6 collection regions2017–2020	median.

3 findings · 3 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 17.9 µg/kg (minimum); 209 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	sample value.
Pork bacon, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	all samplesCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
1 finding · 1 study
Pork bacon, cookedFDA Total Diet Study	6 collection regions2017–2020	median.

3 findings · 3 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 277 µg/kg (minimum); 679 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	sample value.

2 findings · 2 studies
Pork bacon, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	sample value.

1 finding · 1 study
Pork bacon, cookedFDA Total Diet Study	6 collection regions2017–2020	median.

1 finding · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 190 µg/kg (minimum); 730 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.

1 finding · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 5,070 µg/kg (minimum); 9,180 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.

1 finding · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 32 µg/kg (minimum); 120 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.

1 finding · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 1,280 µg/kg (minimum); 16,100 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.

1 finding · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 43 µg/kg (minimum); 250 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.

1 finding · 1 study
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Pork bacon, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	all samplesCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 18,600 µg/kg (minimum); 31,300 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.

1 finding · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	mean.Same samples: 7 µg/kg (minimum); 16 µg/kg (maximum)
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	min.
Pork bacon, as soldBilandžić et al. 2020	butcher shops, grocery stores and supermarkets, Zagreb2020	max.

1 finding · 1 study
Pork bacon, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 5_242014–2015Basis not stated	not detected.

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 pork bacon Pb reference · Pork bacon, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon Pb reference · Pork bacon, as sold. Pork bacon, 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	≤6.95	≤17.1	3.65–20 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤7	≤20	2.63–20 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	48	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, as sold on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-a746ae092eb4:98f8c51f221c

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 pork bacon Pb reference · Pork bacon, cooked

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon Pb reference · Pork bacon, cooked. Pork bacon, 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	≤4
Alternative weighting	≤4	≤4	≤4

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	27	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, cooked on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-3ff56ba7ec9a:1b6d8fe9abf8

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 pork bacon Cd reference · Pork bacon, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon Cd reference · Pork bacon, as sold. Pork bacon, 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	≤1.48	≤3	1.23–6 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤1.57	≤3	1.23–4 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	40	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, as sold on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-a4e8c773de73:8ce42212f9c6

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 pork bacon Cd reference · Pork bacon, cooked

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon Cd reference · Pork bacon, cooked. Pork bacon, 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	2
Alternative weighting	≤1	0.5–1 (bounded)	1.9

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	27	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, cooked on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-e9f210cec844:4d77346569ad

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 pork bacon tAs reference · Pork bacon, as sold

Reference and scope

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

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤5	1.9–5.27 (bounded)	29.3–36.6 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤4.93	≤5	2.5–29.3 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	21	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, as sold on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-09f926be92af:1b2a7aba49bc

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 pork bacon tAs reference · Pork bacon, cooked

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon tAs reference · Pork bacon, cooked. Pork bacon, 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	≤3
Alternative weighting	≤3	≤3	≤3

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	27	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, cooked on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-fdea75b6366e:f90d06b9707d

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 pork bacon iAs reference · Pork bacon, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon iAs reference · Pork bacon, as sold. Pork bacon, 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	≤20	≤20
Alternative weighting	≤20	≤20	≤20

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 pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, as sold on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-5f27efb0a990:2eb93ed9eb3b

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 pork bacon tHg reference · Pork bacon, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon tHg reference · Pork bacon, as sold. Pork bacon, 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	≤0.22	≤4.18	0.065–5 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤0.392	≤4.18	0.065–5 (bounded)

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

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

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, as sold on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-6bcb5b30ed10:6889f413cdfe

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 pork bacon tHg reference · Pork bacon, cooked

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon tHg reference · Pork bacon, cooked. Pork bacon, 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

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	27	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, cooked on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-04efb64cd7cc:04f0dfdb081b

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 pork bacon Ni reference · Pork bacon, cooked

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon Ni reference · Pork bacon, cooked. Pork bacon, 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

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	27	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, cooked on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-8178a948165e:40d1084f7794

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 pork bacon Cr reference · Pork bacon, cooked

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon Cr reference · Pork bacon, cooked. Pork bacon, 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

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	27	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, cooked on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-4d9cde0f5086:4fe4943927b4

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 pork bacon Al reference · Pork bacon, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon Al reference · Pork bacon, as sold. Pork bacon, 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	≤236	≤236	1780
Alternative weighting	≤236	≤236	1780

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	3	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, as sold on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-4c6d5371da79:61948a8c2fd4

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 pork bacon Sn reference · Pork bacon, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon Sn reference · Pork bacon, as sold. Pork bacon, 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	17.5	25.1	29.4
Alternative weighting	17.5	25.1	29.4

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	3	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, as sold on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-ba9b44b486e3:e115eb62c918

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 pork bacon U reference · Pork bacon, cooked

Reference and scope

HMI pork bacon U reference · Pork bacon, cooked. Pork bacon, 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	2.4
Alternative weighting	≤1	0.55–1.05 (bounded)	2.4

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	27	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for pork bacon, 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 pork bacon, cooked on this basis in the completed pork bacon 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:pork-bacon-d92e72bf791c:00b9e452f589

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 pork bacon

No study in the library compared pork bacon 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 pork bacon, as sold pools 48 subgroup units from 1 sampling family, with a median of below 17.1 µg/kg and a middle half spanning below 6.95 (lower quartile) and between 3.65 and 20 µg/kg (upper quartile).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For lead in pork bacon, cooked, the reference median was below 4 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 4 to below 4 µg/kg across 27 units.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →} For cadmium in pork bacon, as sold, the reference median was below 3 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 1.48 to between 1.23 and 6 µg/kg across 40 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, pork bacon, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in PAHO (3.8 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (9.14 µg/kg); reporting regions are markets, not growing areas.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For total arsenic, the lowest regional median was in WPRO (21.5 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (33.8 µg/kg).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Targeted pork bacon, as sold samples in WPRO had total arsenic lower at 21 µg/kg, against 21.5 µg/kg for WPRO in the same study.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Processing, cooking and preparation

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

Mitigation for pork bacon

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 pork bacon for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 2 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) 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 →} Reporting limits for cadmium ranged from 0.5 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) 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 →} Reporting limits for total arsenic ranged from 3 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 200 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 →}

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

Buying and verifying pork bacon

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

Exposure from pork bacon

No source in the library converted pork bacon 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 pork bacon 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.

Pork bacon FAQs

What heavy metals are found in pork bacon?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, uranium, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Se, Ba, CrIII, Mg, Mo and Tl in pork bacon, 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 →}^{3Bilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, Božić Luburić Đ, Varga I, Roncarati A · 2020Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalFoods 2020, 9, 1861Read source →}^{4Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in pork bacon, as sold from 238 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 3.8 to 9.14 µg/kg.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Which regions report the lowest levels in pork bacon?

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, pork bacon, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in PAHO (3.8 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (9.14 µg/kg); reporting regions are markets, not growing areas.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For total arsenic, the lowest regional median was in WPRO (21.5 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (33.8 µg/kg).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

How much of the arsenic in pork bacon is inorganic?

Inorganic arsenic, the more toxic form, was measured in 2 results from 2 sources, far fewer than total arsenic.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{4Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported inorganic arsenic in pork bacon, as sold from 1 result in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 20 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
Evaluation of Element Concentrations in Beef and Pork Meat Cuts Available to the Population in the Croatian CapitalBilandžić N, Sedak M, Čalopek B, Đokić M, Varenina I, Solomun Kolanović B, et al. · Foods 2020, 9, 1861 · 2020 · doi.org/10.3390/foods9121861Peer-reviewed
Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodBaxter M and Brereton N · Food and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081 · 2015 · www.food.gov.ukGovernment
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
CONCENTRATION OF CADMIUM IN MEAT AND SELECTED MEATS PRODUCTSLukáčová A, Lopašovský Ľ, Kňažická Z, and Golian J · Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences 4 (special issue 3), 102-105 · 2015 · doi.org/10.15414/jmbfs.2015.4.special3.102-105Peer-reviewed

Sources

Browse Pork bacon 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 pork bacon record in the library: 8 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

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Heavy metals in Pork bacon

Pork bacon overview

What counts as pork bacon

Heavy metal contamination profile of pork bacon

How metals reach pork bacon

Which forms and regions measured lower

Processing, cooking and preparation

Mitigation for pork bacon

Trade-offs and limits of controls

Testing pork bacon for metals

Buying and verifying pork bacon

Exposure from pork bacon

Evidence review and remaining gaps

Pork bacon FAQs

References

Sources

Update history

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