Heavy metals in Vegetable soup

Quick read

Vegetable soup in the HMI library has 61 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid, total mercury, methylmercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin and uranium from 9 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 →}^{3EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · 2010Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570Read source →}^{4Spungen 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 →}^{5European Food Safety Authority · 2012Cadmium dietary exposure in the European populationEFSA Journal 2012;10(1):2551Read source →}^{6Joint 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, inorganic arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid and total mercury and others, in 61 results from 9 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 →}^{3EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · 2010Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570Read source →}^{4Spungen 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 →}
Main drivers:
Form, basis and where the vegetable soup 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 →}^{3EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · 2010Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570Read source →}^{4Spungen 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 →}
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 →}^{3EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · 2010Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570Read source →}^{4Spungen 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 →}

Vegetable soup overview

Vegetable soup in the HMI library has 61 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid, total mercury, methylmercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin and uranium from 9 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 →}^{3EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · 2010Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570Read source →}^{4Spungen 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 →}^{5European Food Safety Authority · 2012Cadmium dietary exposure in the European populationEFSA Journal 2012;10(1):2551Read source →}^{6Joint 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 vegetable soup, as sold from 444 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 4.1 to 50 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, vegetable soup, canned had a median lead result below 4 µg/kg across 3 composites from 2018–2020.^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}

EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2010 reported lead at 0 µg/kg (median) in vegetable soup, as sold from Vegetables.^{3EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · 2010Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570Read source →} Across 2 other studies of ordinary farms and markets, reported cadmium means and medians with the basis not stated ranged from 6.5 µg/kg (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives 2022) to 10.2 µg/kg (European Food Safety Authority 2012).^{5European Food Safety Authority · 2012Cadmium dietary exposure in the European populationEFSA Journal 2012;10(1):2551Read source →}^{6Joint 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 vegetable soup came from and the laboratory’s reporting limit. Testing finds contamination but does not remove it.

What counts as vegetable soup

This page covers vegetable soup in 2 forms kept separate in every comparison: vegetable soup, as sold (52 results) and vegetable soup, canned (9 results).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{3EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · 2010Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570Read source →}^{4Spungen 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 →}^{5European Food Safety Authority · 2012Cadmium dietary exposure in the European populationEFSA Journal 2012;10(1):2551Read source →}^{6Joint 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 vegetable soup

The table holds every extracted vegetable soup result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 61 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 →}^{3EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · 2010Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570Read source →}^{4Spungen 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 →}^{5European Food Safety Authority · 2012Cadmium dietary exposure in the European populationEFSA Journal 2012;10(1):2551Read source →}^{6Joint 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 →}

5 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 vegetable soup, 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

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

12 findings · 2 studies
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2019	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2010–2016	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2011	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2000–2018	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2012–2018	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2009–2010	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2010	Vegetables2000–2009Basis not stated	max.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2010	Vegetables2000–2009Basis not stated	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2010	Vegetables2000–2009Basis not stated	mean.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2010	Vegetables2000–2009Basis not stated	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2010	Vegetables2000–2009Basis not stated	mean.
2 findings · 2 studies
Vegetable soup, cannedFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Vegetable soup, cannedSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020	not detected.

9 findings · 3 studies
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2019	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2010–2016	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2006	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO1999–2018	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO1999–2018	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2010	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldEuropean Food Safety Authority 2012	all samples (EU Member State submissions)2003–2011Basis not stated	mean.
Vegetable soup, as soldJoint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives 2022	GEMS/Food contaminants database2011Basis not stated	mean.
2 findings · 2 studies
Vegetable soup, cannedFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.
Vegetable soup, cannedSpungen et al. 2024	all samples2018–2020	mean.

13 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2008–2014	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2015	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2023	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2019	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2023	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2018	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2014	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2019–2022	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2000–2016	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2009	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2009	EFSA 2009 pooled European occurrence dataCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2009	EFSA 2009 pooled European occurrence dataCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.Same samples: 50 µg/kg (maximum); 50 µg/kg (percentile)
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2009	EFSA 2009 pooled European occurrence dataCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	mean.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2009	EFSA 2009 pooled European occurrence dataCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	max.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2009	EFSA 2009 pooled European occurrence dataCollection date unreportedBasis not stated	percentile.
1 finding · 1 study
Vegetable soup, cannedFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

3 findings · 2 studies
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2016	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2010	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA) 2014	European dietary-survey occurrence data2003–2013Basis not stated	mean.

1 finding · 1 study
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2016	median.

4 findings · 2 studies · 4 spread figures folded in
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2020	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2012	EU occurrence data2004–2011Basis not stated	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2012	EU occurrence data2004–2011Basis not stated	mean.Same samples: 321 µg/kg (maximum); 13 µg/kg (percentile); 321 µg/kg (percentile)
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2012	EU occurrence data2004–2011Basis not stated	max.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2012	EU occurrence data2004–2011Basis not stated	percentile.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2012	EU occurrence data2004–2011Basis not stated	percentile.
Vegetable soup, as soldEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2012	EU occurrence data2004–2011Basis not stated	percentile.
1 finding · 1 study
Vegetable soup, cannedFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2012	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Vegetable soup, cannedFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Vegetable soup, cannedFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.

2 findings · 1 study
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2009	median.
Vegetable soup, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2010	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Vegetable soup, cannedFDA Total Diet Study	1 collection regions2018–2020	median.

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 vegetable soup Pb reference · Vegetable soup, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup Pb reference · Vegetable soup, as sold. Vegetable soup, 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	≤7	5.3–23.4 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤7	≤7	4.5–22.9 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	46	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for vegetable soup, 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 vegetable soup, as sold on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-c85c2a57e5ff:00c25dfaeb75

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 vegetable soup Pb reference · Vegetable soup, canned

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup Pb reference · Vegetable soup, canned. Vegetable soup, canned; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤4	≤4	≤4
Alternative weighting	≤4	≤4	≤4

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	3	50%
Spungen et al. 2024	1	50%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for vegetable soup, canned 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:vegetable-soup-2807d3ce60a9:322da57ca179

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 vegetable soup Cd reference · Vegetable soup, as sold

Reference and scope

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

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	2.72–3.46 (bounded)	4.11–5 (bounded)	5.55–6.25 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	2.31–3.88 (bounded)	4.11–5.13 (bounded)	5.88–7.02 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	56	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for vegetable soup, 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 vegetable soup, as sold on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-285218b20628:44c5eaf5c444

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 vegetable soup Cd reference · Vegetable soup, canned

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup Cd reference · Vegetable soup, canned. Vegetable soup, canned; 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	4.6	9.3
Alternative weighting	4	4.6	9.3

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 vegetable soup, canned 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 vegetable soup, canned on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-e8b6cd069fee:2345c05ac8cb

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 vegetable soup tAs reference · Vegetable soup, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup tAs reference · Vegetable soup, as sold. Vegetable soup, 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	≤3.66	2.15–15.1 (bounded)	12.8–72.5 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤4	≤17.3	12.8–98 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	32	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for vegetable soup, 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 vegetable soup, as sold on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-10cd262b58f6:6b638c0afc2e

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 vegetable soup tAs reference · Vegetable soup, canned

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup tAs reference · Vegetable soup, canned. Vegetable soup, canned; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤3	≤3	≤3
Alternative weighting	≤3	≤3	≤3

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 vegetable soup, canned 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 vegetable soup, canned on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-8af8e07efe69:24f2dfbbfdbd

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 vegetable soup iAs reference · Vegetable soup, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup iAs reference · Vegetable soup, as sold. Vegetable soup, 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	≤3	19–25 (bounded)	70
Alternative weighting	≤3	19–25 (bounded)	70

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 vegetable soup, 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 vegetable soup, as sold on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-fe59ba14d9ce:d815c041bc97

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 vegetable soup DMA reference · Vegetable soup, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup DMA reference · Vegetable soup, as sold. Vegetable soup, 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	80	80	80
Alternative weighting	80	80	80

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 vegetable soup, 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 vegetable soup, as sold on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-10c7df205439:b0cd85249feb

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 vegetable soup tHg reference · Vegetable soup, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup tHg reference · Vegetable soup, as sold. Vegetable soup, 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	≤0.25	≤1.08	0.25–5 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤0.25	≤1.04	0.25–3.65 (bounded)

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

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

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for vegetable soup, 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 vegetable soup, as sold on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-0195155903d3:5ddc7cdd9759

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 vegetable soup tHg reference · Vegetable soup, canned

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup tHg reference · Vegetable soup, canned. Vegetable soup, canned; 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

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 vegetable soup, canned 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 vegetable soup, canned on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-21dc0fd6f24c:941ec3cccebb

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 vegetable soup MeHg reference · Vegetable soup, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup MeHg reference · Vegetable soup, as sold. Vegetable soup, 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	1.4	1.4	1.4
Alternative weighting	1.4	1.4	1.4

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 vegetable soup, 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 vegetable soup, as sold on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-e73e5c203ec7:00cd81a802ce

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 vegetable soup Ni reference · Vegetable soup, canned

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup Ni reference · Vegetable soup, canned. Vegetable soup, canned; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤40	46	53
Alternative weighting	≤40	46	53

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
FDA Total Diet Study	3	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for vegetable soup, canned 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 vegetable soup, canned on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-94a8c0b3b869:18f48fc6c971

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 vegetable soup Cr reference · Vegetable soup, canned

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup Cr reference · Vegetable soup, canned. Vegetable soup, canned; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤50	≤50	≤50
Alternative weighting	≤50	≤50	≤50

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 vegetable soup, canned 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 vegetable soup, canned on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-b03902ec56c5:4d3bb281017b

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 vegetable soup Al reference · Vegetable soup, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup Al reference · Vegetable soup, as sold. Vegetable soup, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤236	1060	1210
Alternative weighting	≤236	1060	1210

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 vegetable soup, 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 vegetable soup, as sold on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-14a41035c3d6:cdf97c315449

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 vegetable soup Sn reference · Vegetable soup, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup Sn reference · Vegetable soup, as sold. Vegetable soup, 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	≤3.98	3.23–8.22 (bounded)	17.2–18.9 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤3.98	3.23–8.22 (bounded)	17.2–18.9 (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 vegetable soup, 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 vegetable soup, as sold on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-2c5fc15c3a8e:cf66dd4c7fdf

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 vegetable soup U reference · Vegetable soup, canned

Reference and scope

HMI vegetable soup U reference · Vegetable soup, canned. Vegetable soup, canned; 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 vegetable soup, canned 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 vegetable soup, canned on this basis in the completed vegetable soup 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:vegetable-soup-eb150d5565db:77bc3a317b59

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 vegetable soup

No study in the library compared vegetable soup 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 vegetable soup, canned pools 4 subgroup units from 2 sampling families, with a median of below 4 µg/kg and a middle half spanning below 4 (lower quartile) and below 4 µg/kg (upper quartile).^{2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →}^{4Spungen 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 lead in vegetable soup, as sold, the reference median was below 7 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 7 to between 5.3 and 23.4 µg/kg across 46 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For cadmium in vegetable soup, as sold, the reference median was between 4.11 and 5 µg/kg, with a middle half from between 2.72 and 3.46 to between 5.55 and 6.25 µg/kg across 56 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, vegetable soup, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in WPRO (4.1 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (50 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 PAHO (3.34 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (8.27 µg/kg).^{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 vegetable soup 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 vegetable soup

No control for metals in vegetable soup 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 vegetable soup; 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 vegetable soup for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 1 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) to 3,000 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} Reporting limits for cadmium ranged from 0.15 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) to 10 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 2 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 vegetable soup

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

Exposure from vegetable soup

No source in the library converted vegetable soup 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 vegetable soup was decided on its content: 9 occurrence extracted, 9 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.

Vegetable soup FAQs

What heavy metals are found in vegetable soup?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid, total mercury, methylmercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin and uranium in vegetable soup, 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 →}^{3EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · 2010Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570Read source →}^{4Spungen 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 →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in vegetable soup, as sold from 444 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 4.1 to 50 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 vegetable soup?

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, vegetable soup, as sold had the lowest lead subgroup median in WPRO (4.1 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (50 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 PAHO (3.34 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (8.27 µg/kg).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

How much of the arsenic in vegetable soup 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 →}^{7European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) · 2014Dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in the European populationEFSA Journal 2014;12(3):3597Read source →} European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) 2014 reported inorganic arsenic at 8.9 µg/kg (mean) in vegetable soup, as sold from European dietary-survey occurrence data.^{7European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) · 2014Dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in the European populationEFSA Journal 2014;12(3):3597Read 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
Scientific Opinion on Lead in FoodEFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) · EFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1570 · 2010 · doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1570Government
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
Cadmium dietary exposure in the European populationEuropean Food Safety Authority · EFSA Journal 2012;10(1):2551 · 2012 · doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2551Government
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
Dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in the European populationEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA) · EFSA Journal 2014;12(3):3597 · 2014 · doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3597Government

Sources

Browse Vegetable soup 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 vegetable soup record in the library: 9 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

Scientific Opinion on Lead in Food

4

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

5

Cadmium dietary exposure in the European population

6

Cadmium: dietary exposure assessment

Food and Drug Administration

EFSA

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

7

Dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in the European population