Heavy metals in Semi-skimmed milk

Quick read

Semi-skimmed milk in the HMI library has 35 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, Ba, CrIII, CrVI and Tl from 3 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →}

Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury and nickel and others, in 35 results from 3 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →}
Main drivers:
Semi-skimmed milk, as sold from Microwaved had CrIII higher at 4.43 µg/kg, against 4.34 µg/kg for Hot plate in the same study.^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read 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 →}^{2Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →}

Semi-skimmed milk overview

Semi-skimmed milk in the HMI library has 35 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, Ba, CrIII, CrVI and Tl from 3 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in semi-skimmed milk, as sold from 1 result in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 90 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Higher results came from contaminated or exposed settings rather than ordinary supply. Semi-skimmed milk, as sold from Raw had CrIII higher at 4.5 µg/kg, against 4.34 µg/kg for Hot plate in the same study.^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →}

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

What counts as semi-skimmed milk

This page covers semi-skimmed milk, as sold (35 results).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read 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 semi-skimmed milk

The table holds every extracted semi-skimmed milk result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 35 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 →}^{2Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →} Monitoring medians are HMI calculations from individual submissions; non-detects remain intervals between zero and the reporting limit and are never read as zero.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

0 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 12 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 semi-skimmed milk, 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

Semi-skimmed milk 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)

2 findings · 2 studies
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2013As sold / fresh	median.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

10 findings · 2 studies
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 1Collection date unreported	not detected.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 2Collection date unreported	not detected.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 3Collection date unreported	not detected.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 4Collection date unreported	not detected.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 5Collection date unreported	not detected.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 6Collection date unreported	not detected.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 7Collection date unreported	not detected.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 9Collection date unreported	not detected.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 10 (row printed 'Raw')Collection date unreported	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	sample value.

12 findings · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	Hot plateCollection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	MicrowavedCollection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	RawCollection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 1Collection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 2Collection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 3Collection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 4Collection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 5Collection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 6Collection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 7Collection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 9Collection date unreported	mean.
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	retail product 10 (row printed 'Raw')Collection date unreported	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldSaraiva et al. 2021	all samplesCollection date unreported	not detected.

1 finding · 1 study
Semi-skimmed milk, as soldBaxter et al. 2015	food category composite 18_1152014–2015	not detected.

Shared dataset methods and interpretation

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

HMI semi-skimmed milk Pb reference · Semi-skimmed milk, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI semi-skimmed milk Pb reference · Semi-skimmed milk, as sold. Semi-skimmed milk, 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	≤90	≤90	≤90
Alternative weighting	≤90	≤90	≤90

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 semi-skimmed milk, 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 semi-skimmed milk, as sold on this basis in the completed semi-skimmed milk 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:semi-skimmed-milk-a1bf024ce5f4:8c023ba735ae

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 semi-skimmed milk

The evidence on how metals reach semi-skimmed milk comes from studies that compared exposed and ordinary settings. Semi-skimmed milk, as sold from Raw had CrIII higher at 4.5 µg/kg, against 4.34 µg/kg for Hot plate in the same study.^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →}

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

Which forms and regions measured lower

In one study, CrIII across 9 groups of semi-skimmed milk ranged from 0.48 µg/kg (retail product 4) to 1.93 µg/kg (retail product 10 (row printed ‘Raw’)); the lowest is the lowest observed in that study, not an established sourcing preference.^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →}

Processing, cooking and preparation

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

Mitigation for semi-skimmed milk

Lot testing against the applicable limit is the check that can be verified.

No measured way to lower metals in this food is in the library yet.

Trade-offs and limits of controls

Avoiding exposed growing areas lowered the metal measured in the studies available, but no study measured the cost or supply effect of doing so.^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →} Metals do not move together, so a lot that passes a lead limit says little about cadmium, arsenic or nickel unless those are tested as well.

Testing semi-skimmed milk for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 4 µg/kg (Baxter et al. 2015) to 90 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 →}^{2Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}

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

Buying and verifying semi-skimmed milk

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

Exposure from semi-skimmed milk

No source in the library converted semi-skimmed milk 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 semi-skimmed milk was decided on its content: 3 occurrence extracted, 3 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.

Semi-skimmed milk FAQs

What heavy metals are found in semi-skimmed milk?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin, antimony, Ba, CrIII, CrVI and Tl in semi-skimmed milk, most often lead, cadmium and total arsenic.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in semi-skimmed milk, as sold from 1 result in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 90 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

How do heavy metals get into semi-skimmed milk?

In the studies available, semi-skimmed milk from contaminated or exposed settings carried more metal than semi-skimmed milk from the same study’s control.^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →} Semi-skimmed milk, as sold from Microwaved had CrIII higher at 4.43 µg/kg, against 4.34 µg/kg for Hot plate in the same study.^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →}

Which origins or products of semi-skimmed milk measured lowest?

In one study, CrIII across 9 groups of semi-skimmed milk ranged from 0.48 µg/kg (retail product 4) to 1.93 µg/kg (retail product 10 (row printed ‘Raw’)); the lowest is the lowest observed in that study, not an established sourcing preference.^{3Saraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, Jitaru P · 2021Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSFood Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314Read source →}

How much of the arsenic in semi-skimmed milk is inorganic?

Inorganic arsenic, the more toxic form, was measured in 1 result from 1 source, far fewer than total arsenic.^{2Baxter M, Brereton N · 2015Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodFood and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081Read source →}

References

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

GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsWorld Health Organization · GEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme · 2026 · extranet.who.intDataset
Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in foodBaxter M and Brereton N · Food and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS102081 · 2015 · www.food.gov.ukGovernment
Chromium speciation analysis in raw and cooked milk and meat samples by species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MSSaraiva M, Chekri R, Guérin T, Sloth JJ, and Jitaru P · Food Additives & Contaminants Part A 38(2):304-314 · 2021 · doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2020.1859144Peer-reviewed

Sources

Browse Semi-skimmed milk 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 semi-skimmed milk record in the library: 3 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

Referenced by

Dairy & eggs

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