Heavy metals in Processed American cheese

Quick read

Processed American cheese in the HMI library has 83 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, uranium, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, V, Se, Ba, mercury (Hg), Sr, Ti and Tl from 7 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 →}^{3Spungen 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 →}^{4Abulgasim AM, Elbakosh EH · 2025Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya).Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34Read source →}^{5Al-Shdidi AMS · 2010Study of Pollution Levels of heavy metals residues in the locally produced cheese & emulsifying saltsThe Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine 34(2):193-198Read source →}^{6Baxter 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 →}

Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury and nickel and others, in 83 results from 7 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 →}^{3Spungen 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 →}^{4Abulgasim AM, Elbakosh EH · 2025Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya).Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34Read source →}
Main drivers:
Form, basis and where the processed American cheese was sampled; reporting limits decide how many results are non-detects.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Spungen 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 →}^{4Abulgasim AM, Elbakosh EH · 2025Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya).Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34Read 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 →}^{3Spungen 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 →}^{4Abulgasim AM, Elbakosh EH · 2025Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya).Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34Read source →}

Processed American cheese overview

Processed American cheese in the HMI library has 83 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, uranium, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, V, Se, Ba, Hg, Sr, Ti and Tl from 7 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 →}^{3Spungen 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 →}^{4Abulgasim AM, Elbakosh EH · 2025Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya).Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34Read source →}^{5Al-Shdidi AMS · 2010Study of Pollution Levels of heavy metals residues in the locally produced cheese & emulsifying saltsThe Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine 34(2):193-198Read source →}^{6Baxter 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 processed American cheese, as sold from 302 results in 2 reporting regions, with subgroup medians below 50 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} In the US Total Diet Study, processed American cheese, as sold had a median lead result below 4 µg/kg across 3 composites from 2018–2020.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}

Spungen et al. 2024 reported lead at 3.4 µg/kg (mean) and cadmium at 2.8 µg/kg (mean) in processed American cheese, as sold from all samples.^{3Spungen 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 →} Crupi et al. 2022 reported total arsenic at 1 µg/kg (mean ± 1 SD) in processed American cheese, as sold from retail, markets in Sicily.^{7Crupi R, Lo Turco V, Gugliandolo E, Nava V, Potortì AG, Cuzzocrea S, Di Bella G, Licata P · 2022Mineral Composition in Delactosed Dairy Products: Quality and Safety StatusFoods 2022, 11, 139Read source →}

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

What counts as processed American cheese

This page covers processed American cheese, as sold (83 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 →}^{3Spungen 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 →}^{4Abulgasim AM, Elbakosh EH · 2025Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya).Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34Read source →}^{5Al-Shdidi AMS · 2010Study of Pollution Levels of heavy metals residues in the locally produced cheese & emulsifying saltsThe Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine 34(2):193-198Read source →}^{6Baxter 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 →}

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 processed American cheese

The table holds every extracted processed American cheese result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 83 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 →}^{3Spungen 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 →}^{4Abulgasim AM, Elbakosh EH · 2025Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya).Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34Read source →}^{5Al-Shdidi AMS · 2010Study of Pollution Levels of heavy metals residues in the locally produced cheese & emulsifying saltsThe Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine 34(2):193-198Read source →}^{6Baxter 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 →} 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 →}

2 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 0 rows have a direct same-study comparison, and the rest stay unrated with the reason recorded. 2 values from 1 source failed a check against their own source and are shown but not compared.^{4Abulgasim AM, Elbakosh EH · 2025Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya).Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34Read source →}

Comparison methods and scope

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

About this table

Food formCollection scopeFindingComparisonEvidence

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

12 findings · 7 studies
Processed American cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2017As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2017As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2000–2017As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020As sold / fresh	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldAbulgasim et al. 2025	five local and imported processed cheese productsCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	min.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	max.
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	sample value.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

12 findings · 7 studies
Processed American cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2017As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2006–2017As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2003–2017As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020As sold / fresh	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldAbulgasim et al. 2025	five local and imported processed cheese productsCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	min.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	max.
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	not detected.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

5 findings · 4 studies
Processed American cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2008–2023As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	sample value.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	not detected.

3 findings · 3 studies
Processed American cheese, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2016As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	not detected.

4 findings · 3 studies
Processed American cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	sample value.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

4 findings · 3 studies
Processed American cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / fresh	median.
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	sample value.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

3 findings · 2 studies
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	sample value.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	sample value.

1 finding · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / fresh	median.

2 findings · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

3 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	mean.Same samples: 190 µg/kg (minimum); 290 µg/kg (maximum)
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	min.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	max.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	not detected.

3 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	mean.Same samples: 2,100 µg/kg (minimum); 4,900 µg/kg (maximum)
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	min.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	max.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

5 findings · 2 studies
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	min.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	max.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

3 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	mean.Same samples: 5,800 µg/kg (minimum); 8,800 µg/kg (maximum)
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	min.
Processed American cheese, as soldAl-Shdidi 2010	10 random samples, Baghdad markets (farmer- and grocer-made)Collection date unreported	max.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

2 findings · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

2 findings · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	not detected.

3 findings · 2 studies
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	sample value.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

2 findings · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

2 findings · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

2 findings · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.
Processed American cheese, as soldCrupi et al. 2022	retail, markets in SicilyCollection date unreported	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Processed American cheese, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 19_1192014–2015	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 processed american cheese Pb reference · Processed American cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI processed american cheese Pb reference · Processed American cheese, as sold. Processed American cheese, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤4	≤6.3	6.3–19 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤4	≤6.3	6.3–20 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	34	50%
FDA Total Diet Study	3	50%

Methods

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 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:processed-american-cheese-9bf5e5c2c50a:f240755ab9af

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 processed american cheese Cd reference · Processed American cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI processed american cheese Cd reference · Processed American cheese, as sold. Processed American cheese, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤2.4	2.4–2.5 (bounded)	2.5–3.5 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤2.4	2.4–2.5 (bounded)	2.5–3.5 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	31	50%
FDA Total Diet Study	3	50%

Methods

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 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:processed-american-cheese-c0603612745d:5555e4e7c3da

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 processed american cheese tAs reference · Processed American cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI processed american cheese tAs reference · Processed American cheese, as sold. Processed American cheese, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	2.31–6.66 (bounded)	5.9–9.17 (bounded)	8.3–20 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	2.31–6.66 (bounded)	5.9–9.17 (bounded)	8.3–20 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	15	50%
FDA Total Diet Study	3	50%

Methods

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 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:processed-american-cheese-a79dd12cbe9e:bdd33e2c9444

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 processed american cheese tHg reference · Processed American cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI processed american cheese tHg reference · Processed American cheese, as sold. Processed American cheese, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤0.3	≤1	≤1
Alternative weighting	≤0.3	≤1	≤1

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	13	50%
FDA Total Diet Study	3	50%

Methods

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 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:processed-american-cheese-0dc132290ca8:905df0604bcd

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 processed american cheese Ni reference · Processed American cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI processed american cheese Ni reference · Processed American cheese, as sold. Processed American cheese, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	78	90	91
Alternative weighting	78	90	91

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 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 processed american cheese, as sold on this basis in the completed processed american cheese ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

FDA Total Diet Study

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:processed-american-cheese-ad393dbdf6ce:541696ebfc6d

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 processed american cheese Cr reference · Processed American cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI processed american cheese Cr reference · Processed American cheese, as sold. Processed American cheese, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	240	300	400
Alternative weighting	240	300	400

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 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 processed american cheese, as sold on this basis in the completed processed american cheese ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

FDA Total Diet Study

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:processed-american-cheese-8653d46aa163:78059279d476

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 processed american cheese U reference · Processed American cheese, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI processed american cheese U reference · Processed American cheese, as sold. Processed American cheese, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	23	31	53
Alternative weighting	23	31	53

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1 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 processed american cheese, as sold on this basis in the completed processed american cheese ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

FDA Total Diet Study

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:processed-american-cheese-a18f10215d5b:8f5c52a6b4ee

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 processed American cheese

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

Which forms and regions measured lower

The HMI reference for lead in processed American cheese, as sold pools 37 subgroup units from 2 sampling families, with a median of below 6.3 µg/kg and a middle half spanning below 4 (lower quartile) and between 6.3 and 19 µg/kg (upper quartile).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →} For cadmium in processed American cheese, as sold, the reference median was between 2.4 and 2.5 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 2.4 to between 2.5 and 3.5 µg/kg across 34 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →} For total arsenic in processed American cheese, as sold, the reference median was between 5.9 and 9.17 µg/kg, with a middle half from between 2.31 and 6.66 to between 8.3 and 20 µg/kg across 18 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}

Processing, cooking and preparation

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

Mitigation for processed American cheese

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 processed American cheese for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 4 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 3,000 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →} Reporting limits for cadmium ranged from 1 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 1,000 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →} Reporting limits for total arsenic ranged from 3 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 100 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 processed American cheese

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

Exposure from processed American cheese

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

Evidence review and remaining gaps

Every source record that names processed American cheese was decided on its content: 7 occurrence extracted, 7 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.

Processed American cheese FAQs

What heavy metals are found in processed American cheese?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, uranium, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, V, Se, Ba, Hg, Sr, Ti and Tl in processed American cheese, most often lead, cadmium and total arsenic.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3Spungen 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 →}^{4Abulgasim AM, Elbakosh EH · 2025Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya).Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in processed American cheese, as sold from 302 results in 2 reporting regions, with subgroup medians below 50 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

How much of the arsenic in processed American cheese is inorganic?

Inorganic arsenic, the more toxic form, was measured in 1 result from 1 source, far fewer than total arsenic.^{6Baxter 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 →}

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
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
Assessment Of Milk Fat Content And Certain Heavy Metals In Various Cheese Types ( W. Libya)Abulgasim AM and Elbakosh EH · Libyan Journal of Medical Research 19(1):30-34 · 2025 · doi.org/10.54361/ljmr.19.1.06Peer-reviewed
Study of Pollution Levels of heavy metals residues in the locally produced cheese & emulsifying saltsAl-Shdidi AMS · The Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine 34(2):193-198 · 2010 · doi.org/10.30539/iraqijvm.v34i2.650Peer-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
Mineral Composition in Delactosed Dairy Products: Quality and Safety StatusCrupi R, Lo Turco V, Gugliandolo E, Nava V, Potortì AG, Cuzzocrea S, et al. · Foods 2022, 11, 139 · 2022 · doi.org/10.3390/foods11020139Peer-reviewed

Sources

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

Update history

22 October 2026: Rebuilt from every processed american cheese record in the library: 7 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

Referenced by

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Heavy metals in Processed American cheese

Processed American cheese overview

What counts as processed American cheese

Heavy metal contamination profile of processed American cheese

How metals reach processed American cheese

Which forms and regions measured lower

Processing, cooking and preparation

Mitigation for processed American cheese

Trade-offs and limits of controls

Testing processed American cheese for metals

Buying and verifying processed American cheese

Exposure from processed American cheese

Evidence review and remaining gaps

Processed American cheese FAQs

References

Sources

Update history

Related ingredients

Referenced by

Graph View