Heavy metals in Red wine

Quick read

Red wine in the HMI library has 53 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, uranium and V from 6 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 →}^{4Centre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) · 2013The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic ContaminantsCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →}^{5Đurđić S, Stanković V, Ražić S, Mutić J · 2021Is a Lead Isotope Ratios in Wine Good Marker for Origin Assessment?Frontiers in ChemistryRead source →}^{6Centre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR · 2012The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Inorganic ArsenicCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →}

Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury and nickel and others, in 53 results from 6 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 →}^{4Centre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) · 2013The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic ContaminantsCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →}
Main drivers:
Form, basis and where the red wine 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 →}^{4Centre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) · 2013The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic ContaminantsCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead 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 →}^{4Centre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) · 2013The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic ContaminantsCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →}

Red wine overview

Red wine in the HMI library has 53 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, uranium and V from 6 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 →}^{4Centre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) · 2013The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic ContaminantsCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →}^{5Đurđić S, Stanković V, Ražić S, Mutić J · 2021Is a Lead Isotope Ratios in Wine Good Marker for Origin Assessment?Frontiers in ChemistryRead source →}^{6Centre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR · 2012The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Inorganic ArsenicCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in red wine, as sold from 3,025 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 4.68 to 10 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, red wine, as sold had a median lead result of 4.4 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 5.3 µg/kg (mean) in red wine, 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 →} Centre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR 2012 reported inorganic arsenic at 5 µg/kg (mean) in red wine, as sold from all samples (4 sampling occasions, composites).^{6Centre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR · 2012The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Inorganic ArsenicCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →}

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

What counts as red wine

This page covers red wine, as sold (53 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 →}^{4Centre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) · 2013The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic ContaminantsCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →}^{5Đurđić S, Stanković V, Ražić S, Mutić J · 2021Is a Lead Isotope Ratios in Wine Good Marker for Origin Assessment?Frontiers in ChemistryRead source →}^{6Centre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR · 2012The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Inorganic ArsenicCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead 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 red wine

The table holds every extracted red wine result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 53 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 →}^{4Centre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) · 2013The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic ContaminantsCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →}^{5Đurđić S, Stanković V, Ražić S, Mutić J · 2021Is a Lead Isotope Ratios in Wine Good Marker for Origin Assessment?Frontiers in ChemistryRead source →}^{6Centre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR · 2012The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Inorganic ArsenicCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead 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 →}

4 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 0 rows have a direct same-study comparison, and the rest stay unrated with the reason recorded.

Comparison methods and scope

Each row is one statistic a source reports for one form of red wine, 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

Red wine 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)

24 findings · 5 studies
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2020	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2017	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2015	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2010	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2008	median.
Red wine, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Red wine, as soldSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020	mean.
Red wine, as soldCentre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) 2013	all samples2010–2011Basis not stated	mean.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from BelgradeCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	median.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from BelgradeCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from BelgradeCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	min.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from BelgradeCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	max.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from Central SerbiaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	median.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from Central SerbiaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from Central SerbiaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	min.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from Central SerbiaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	max.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from South SerbiaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	median.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from South SerbiaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from South SerbiaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	min.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from South SerbiaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	max.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from VojvodinaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	median.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from VojvodinaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from VojvodinaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	min.
Red wine, as soldĐurđić et al. 2021	red wines from VojvodinaCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	max.

8 findings · 4 studies
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2007	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2019	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2017	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2010	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2008	median.
Red wine, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Red wine, as soldSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020	not detected.
Red wine, as soldCentre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) 2013	all samples2010–2011Basis not stated	not detected.

6 findings · 2 studies
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2021	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2010–2023	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2021–2023	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2010–2015	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2008	median.
Red wine, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

3 findings · 2 studies
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2021–2023	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2010	median.
Red wine, as soldCentre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR 2012	all samples (4 sampling occasions, composites)2010–2011Basis not stated	mean.

3 findings · 2 studies
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2017	median.
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2008	median.
Red wine, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

2 findings · 2 studies
Red wine, as soldFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Red wine, as soldCentre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) 2013	all samples2010–2011Basis not stated	mean.

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

1 finding · 1 study
Red wine, as soldCentre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) 2013	all samples2010–2011Basis not stated	mean.

2 findings · 2 studies
Red wine, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2010	median.
Red wine, as soldCentre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) 2013	all samples2010–2011Basis not stated	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Red wine, as soldCentre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) 2013	all samples2010–2011Basis not stated	mean.

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

1 finding · 1 study
Red wine, as soldCentre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) 2013	all samples2010–2011Basis not stated	mean.

Shared dataset methods and interpretation

Source summaries retain their original statistic, material, basis and censoring. Each source drawer identifies methods and overlapping samples. No matched reference or pooled distribution is inferred.

HMI red wine Pb reference · Red wine, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI red wine Pb reference · Red wine, as sold. Red wine, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤4.4	4.4–7.25 (bounded)	7.1–16.5 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤4.4	4.4–7.25 (bounded)	7.1–12.9 (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 red wine, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

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:red-wine-c14b74578399:d6ecc530e8d1

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 red wine Cd reference · Red wine, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI red wine Cd reference · Red wine, as sold. Red wine, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

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

30 reference units; 3 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	26	33%
FDA Total Diet Study	3	33%
Spungen et al. 2024	1	33%

Methods

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

3 sampling families with different designs; none is a probability sample of world supply. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:red-wine-3f2e7913422f:30ed443fde02

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 red wine tAs reference · Red wine, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI red wine tAs reference · Red wine, as sold. Red wine, 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	4.3–6.7 (bounded)	5.5–10 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤5.5	4.3–6.7 (bounded)	5.5–10 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	17	50%
FDA Total Diet Study	3	50%

Methods

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

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:red-wine-46cab68166b1:38928cb47867

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 red wine iAs reference · Red wine, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI red wine iAs reference · Red wine, as sold. Red wine, 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	≤7.5	≤15	2.5–20 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤7.5	≤15	2.5–20 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	4	100%

Methods

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for red wine, as sold on this basis in the completed red wine 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:red-wine-dc773da1a04b:4b9f12c04895

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 red wine tHg reference · Red wine, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI red wine tHg reference · Red wine, as sold. Red wine, 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	≤0.825	≤1	≤1
Alternative weighting	≤0.825	≤1	≤1

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	12	50%
FDA Total Diet Study	3	50%

Methods

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

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:red-wine-40306e31bf1a:1cb44178b238

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 red wine Ni reference · Red wine, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI red wine Ni reference · Red wine, as sold. Red wine, 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	24	24
Alternative weighting	≤20	24	24

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for red wine, as sold on this basis in the completed red wine 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:red-wine-a2cf7441aaf7:494bf5672d41

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 red wine Cr reference · Red wine, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI red wine Cr reference · Red wine, as sold. Red wine, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤25	≤25	29
Alternative weighting	≤25	≤25	29

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for red wine, as sold on this basis in the completed red wine 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:red-wine-f9e7ac35a9f0:2a0daf995ad3

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 red wine Sn reference · Red wine, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI red wine Sn reference · Red wine, as sold. Red wine, 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	≤10	≤10	≤10
Alternative weighting	≤10	≤10	≤10

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for red wine, as sold on this basis in the completed red wine 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:red-wine-406f61d99751:93c28f0a210c

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 red wine U reference · Red wine, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI red wine U reference · Red wine, as sold. Red wine, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤1	≤1	1.4
Alternative weighting	≤1	≤1	1.4

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

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for red wine, as sold on this basis in the completed red wine 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:red-wine-0a928a565ccc:e850f924632c

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 red wine

No study in the library compared red wine 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 red wine, as sold pools 37 subgroup units from 2 sampling families, with a median of between 4.4 and 7.25 µg/kg and a middle half spanning below 4.4 (lower quartile) and between 7.1 and 16.5 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 red wine, as sold, the reference median was below 1 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 1 to below 1 µg/kg across 30 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 →}^{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 →} For total arsenic in red wine, as sold, the reference median was between 4.3 and 6.7 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 5 to between 5.5 and 10 µg/kg across 20 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, red wine, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in PAHO (7.4 µg/kg) and the highest in WPRO (10 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 →}

Targeted red wine, as sold samples in WPRO had lead lower at 4.68 µg/kg, against 10 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 study in the library measured the same red wine before and after washing, peeling, drying or cooking for metals, so no processing effect can be stated. Heat does not destroy metals; cooking or drying changes a concentration by moving water or metal, not by removing the element.

Mitigation for red wine

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

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

Trade-offs and limits of controls

Metals do not move together, so a lot that passes a lead limit says little about cadmium, arsenic or nickel unless those are tested as well.

Testing red wine for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 0.5 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) 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 →} Reporting limits for cadmium ranged from 0.5 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) to 30 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 1 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 2,250 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 red wine

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

Exposure from red wine

No source in the library converted red wine 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 red wine was decided on its content: 6 occurrence extracted, 6 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.

Red wine FAQs

What heavy metals are found in red wine?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, uranium and V in red wine, 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 →}^{4Centre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) · 2013The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic ContaminantsCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in red wine, as sold from 3,025 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 4.68 to 10 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 red wine?

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, red wine, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in PAHO (7.4 µg/kg) and the highest in WPRO (10 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 →}

How much of the arsenic in red wine is inorganic?

Inorganic arsenic, the more toxic form, was measured in 3 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 →}^{6Centre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR · 2012The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Inorganic ArsenicCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead source →} Centre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR 2012 reported inorganic arsenic at 5 µg/kg (mean) in red wine, as sold from all samples (4 sampling occasions, composites).^{6Centre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR · 2012The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Inorganic ArsenicCentre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionRead 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
The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic ContaminantsCentre for Food Safety (Hong Kong) · Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region · 2013 · www.cfs.gov.hkGovernment
Is a Lead Isotope Ratios in Wine Good Marker for Origin Assessment?Đurđić S, Stanković V, Ražić S, and Mutić J · Frontiers in Chemistry · 2021 · doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2021.746695Peer-reviewed
The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Inorganic ArsenicCentre for Food Safety FEHD HKSAR · Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region · 2012 · www.cfs.gov.hkGovernment

Sources

Browse Red wine 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 red wine record in the library: 6 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

Graph View

1

GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exports

2

FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical Results

3

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

4

The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Metallic Contaminants

5

Is a Lead Isotope Ratios in Wine Good Marker for Origin Assessment?

6

The First Hong Kong Total Diet Study: Inorganic Arsenic

Food and Drug Administration