Heavy metals in Sage

Quick read

Sage in the HMI library has 43 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, chromium, aluminium, tin, Cu, Fe and Zn from 4 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →}^{3Dghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, Khan MA · 2015Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesJournal of Environmental and Public HealthRead source →}^{4Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · 2022Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentWHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA)Read source →}

Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, chromium and aluminium and others, in 43 results from 4 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →}^{3Dghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, Khan MA · 2015Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesJournal of Environmental and Public HealthRead source →}^{4Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · 2022Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentWHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA)Read source →}
Main drivers:
Form, basis and where the sage 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 →}^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →}^{3Dghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, Khan MA · 2015Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesJournal of Environmental and Public HealthRead source →}^{4Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · 2022Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentWHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA)Read source →}
Practical framing:
Ask for lot results with a quantification limit well below the limit that applies in the destination market.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →}^{3Dghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, Khan MA · 2015Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesJournal of Environmental and Public HealthRead source →}^{4Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · 2022Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentWHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA)Read source →}

Sage overview

Sage in the HMI library has 43 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, chromium, aluminium, tin, Cu, Fe and Zn from 4 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →}^{3Dghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, Khan MA · 2015Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesJournal of Environmental and Public HealthRead source →}^{4Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · 2022Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentWHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA)Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in sage, as sold from 123 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 29.4 to 1,290 µg/kg.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For cadmium, GEMS/Food gave subgroup medians from 10 to 20 µg/kg from 97 results.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Kowalska 2021 reported lead at 2,210 µg/kg (mean) in sage, as sold from all samples.^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →} Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives 2022 reported cadmium at 40.8 µg/kg (mean) in sage, as sold from GEMS/Food contaminants database.^{4Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · 2022Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentWHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA)Read source →}

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

What counts as sage

This page covers sage in 2 forms kept separate in every comparison: sage, as sold (38 results) and sage, dried (5 results).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →}^{3Dghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, Khan MA · 2015Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesJournal of Environmental and Public HealthRead source →}^{4Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · 2022Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentWHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA)Read source →}

Results stay on the basis each source reports: as sold or fresh weight, dry weight, or unstated. Dry-weight, as-sold and unstated results are never pooled, and no moisture conversion is applied.

Heavy metal contamination profile of sage

The table holds every extracted sage result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 43 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 →}^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →}^{3Dghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, Khan MA · 2015Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesJournal of Environmental and Public HealthRead source →}^{4Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · 2022Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentWHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA)Read source →} Monitoring medians are HMI calculations from individual submissions; non-detects remain intervals between zero and the reporting limit and are never read as zero.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

18 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 1 row have a direct same-study comparison, and the rest stay unrated with the reason recorded. 1 value from 1 source failed a check against their own source and are shown but not compared.^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →}

Comparison methods and scope

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

Sage 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)

14 findings · 2 studies
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2023As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2021As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2019As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2008–2011As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2024As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2023As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2015–2017As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2021As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2015–2017	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2013–2017	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2013	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.
Sage, as soldKowalska 2021	all samples2015–2018	mean.
1 finding · 1 study
Sage, driedDghaim et al. 2015	all samples (local and imported)Collection date unreported	range.

9 findings · 3 studies
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2006As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2019As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2008–2011As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2021As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2015–2019	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.
Sage, as soldKowalska 2021	all samples2015–2018	mean.
Sage, as soldJoint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives 2022	GEMS/Food contaminants database2011Basis not stated	mean.
1 finding · 1 study
Sage, driedDghaim et al. 2015	all samples (local and imported)Collection date unreported	range.

6 findings · 2 studies
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2021As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2000–2011As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2021As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.
Sage, as soldKowalska 2021	all samples2015–2018	not detected.

5 findings · 2 studies
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2009–2014As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2021As sold / fresh	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.
Sage, as soldKowalska 2021	all samples2015–2018	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2021As sold / fresh	median.

2 findings · 1 study
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2024	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Sage, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2021As sold / fresh	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Sage, driedDghaim et al. 2015	all samples (local and imported)Collection date unreported	range.

1 finding · 1 study
Sage, driedDghaim et al. 2015	all samples (local and imported)Collection date unreported	range.

1 finding · 1 study
Sage, driedDghaim et al. 2015	all samples (local and imported)Collection date unreported	range.

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 sage Pb reference · Sage, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI sage Pb reference · Sage, as sold. Sage, 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	41–97 (bounded)	103–200 (bounded)	600
Alternative weighting	41–97 (bounded)	103–200 (bounded)	600

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	17	100%

Methods

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

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

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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:sage-cae70c7fb862:3c34fa9c98f1

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 sage Pb reference · Sage, as sold, dry weight

Reference and scope

HMI sage Pb reference · Sage, as sold, dry weight. Sage, as sold; Dry weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	490	845	935
Alternative weighting	515	845	935

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	7	100%

Methods

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

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

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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:sage-52e966eb8966:3b8bbdb8c928

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 sage Cd reference · Sage, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI sage Cd reference · Sage, as sold. Sage, 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	≤9.5	11–15.6 (bounded)	22–30.2 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤9.5	11–15.6 (bounded)	22–30.2 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	12	100%

Methods

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

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

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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:sage-c49caf7343a1:848040d49d8e

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 sage Cd reference · Sage, as sold, dry weight

Reference and scope

HMI sage Cd reference · Sage, as sold, dry weight. Sage, as sold; Dry weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	20	20	21
Alternative weighting	20	20	21

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	5	100%

Methods

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

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

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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:sage-177298c25476:895443f660b9

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 sage tAs reference · Sage, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI sage tAs reference · Sage, as sold. Sage, 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	≤160	160–500 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤25	≤160	98–500 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	11	100%

Methods

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

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

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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:sage-10b53e3de241:3932368b72a6

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 sage tAs reference · Sage, as sold, dry weight

Reference and scope

HMI sage tAs reference · Sage, as sold, dry weight. Sage, as sold; Dry weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤100	≤100	≤100
Alternative weighting	≤100	≤100	≤100

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
Kowalska 2021	1	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for sage, as sold on a dry 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

Kowalska 2021 is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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

Kowalska 2021

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:sage-fc7caf1478f6:2e3495f27d5f

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 sage tHg reference · Sage, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI sage tHg reference · Sage, as sold. Sage, 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	≤0.2	15	15
Alternative weighting	≤0.2	15	15

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

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

Methods

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

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

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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:sage-1572af5ba253:1ab8314cc1ca

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 sage tHg reference · Sage, as sold, dry weight

Reference and scope

HMI sage tHg reference · Sage, as sold, dry weight. Sage, as sold; Dry weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤5	≤5	≤5
Alternative weighting	≤5	≤5	≤5

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
Kowalska 2021	1	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for sage, as sold on a dry 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

Kowalska 2021 is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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

Kowalska 2021

Reference version and interpretation

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

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:sage-7a827d018c25:323ba6df5562

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 sage Cr reference · Sage, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI sage Cr reference · Sage, as sold. Sage, 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	690	690	690
Alternative weighting	690	690	690

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

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

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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:sage-04658f8c93cc:e486e600fdfa

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 sage Sn reference · Sage, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI sage Sn reference · Sage, as sold. Sage, 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	≤100	≤100	≤100
Alternative weighting	≤100	≤100	≤100

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

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

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for sage, as sold on this basis in the completed sage 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:sage-729b94c95383:fc53f11a4298

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 sage

No study in the library compared sage 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 sage, as sold pools 17 subgroup units from 1 sampling family, with a median of between 103 and 200 µg/kg and a middle half spanning between 41 and 97 (lower quartile) and 600 µg/kg (upper quartile).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For lead in sage, as sold, the reference median was 845 µg/kg, with a middle half from 490 to 935 µg/kg across 7 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For cadmium in sage, as sold, the reference median was between 11 and 15.6 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 9.5 to between 22 and 30.2 µg/kg across 12 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, sage, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in PAHO (29.4 µg/kg) and the highest in PAHO (980 µg/kg); reporting regions are markets, not growing areas.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For cadmium, the lowest regional median was in WPRO (17 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (20 µg/kg).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Targeted sage, as sold samples in EURO had lead lower at 68.2 µg/kg, against 620 µg/kg for EURO in the same study.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} In another study, targeted sage, as sold samples in PAHO had lead higher at 1,290 µg/kg, against 849 µg/kg for PAHO in the same study.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Processing, cooking and preparation

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

Mitigation for sage

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 sage for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 1 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 4 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) to 100 µg/kg (Dghaim et al. 2015), 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 →}^{3Dghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, Khan MA · 2015Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesJournal of Environmental and Public HealthRead source →} Reporting limits for total arsenic ranged from 25 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) to 500 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 →}

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

Buying and verifying sage

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

Exposure from sage

No source in the library converted sage 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 sage was decided on its content: 4 occurrence extracted, 4 records in all. The occurrence table renders every extracted result; held values remain visible with their reason.

References identify the sources used in these answers. The Sources index preserves additional discovery links; inclusion there does not mean a source has been reviewed for this assessment. Corrections, completed searches, new direct evidence and changes in requirements should reopen the relevant answer.

Sage FAQs

What heavy metals are found in sage?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, chromium, aluminium, tin, Cu, Fe and Zn in sage, most often lead, cadmium and total arsenic.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Kowalska G · 2021The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthRead source →}^{3Dghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, Khan MA · 2015Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesJournal of Environmental and Public HealthRead source →}^{4Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · 2022Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentWHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA)Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in sage, as sold from 123 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 29.4 to 1,290 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 sage?

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, sage, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in PAHO (29.4 µg/kg) and the highest in PAHO (980 µg/kg); reporting regions are markets, not growing areas.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For cadmium, the lowest regional median was in WPRO (17 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (20 µg/kg).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

References

Works cited on this page, in citation-number order. See Sources for this page’s source inventory. Each title links to a source record with bibliographic details, reported findings, and document provenance.

GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsWorld Health Organization · GEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme · 2026 · extranet.who.intDataset
The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in PolandKowalska G · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2021 · doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115779Peer-reviewed
Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab EmiratesDghaim R, Al Khatib S, Rasool H, and Khan MA · Journal of Environmental and Public Health · 2015 · doi.org/10.1155/2015/973878Peer-reviewed
Cadmium: dietary exposure assessmentJoint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives · WHO Food Additives Series, No. 82 (Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food, prepared by the 91st meeting of JECFA) · 2022 · www.who.intGovernment

Sources

Browse Sage 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 sage record in the library: 4 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

Graph View

1

GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exports

2

The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Herbs, Spices, Tea, and Coffee in Poland

3

Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United Arab Emirates

4

Cadmium: dietary exposure assessment

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives