Heavy metals in Wholemeal bread

Quick read

Wholemeal bread in the HMI library has 51 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin and Cu from 2 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read source →}

Metals measured:
Lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury and nickel and others, in 51 results from 2 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read source →}
Main drivers:
Form, basis and where the wholemeal bread 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 →}^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read 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 →}^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read source →}

Wholemeal bread overview

Wholemeal bread in the HMI library has 51 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin and Cu from 2 sources.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in wholemeal bread, as sold from 262 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 33 to 54 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 7 to 20 µg/kg from 191 results.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Marín et al. 2018 reported lead at 30.6 µg/kg (mean), cadmium at 20.8 µg/kg (mean), total arsenic at 19.1 µg/kg (mean) and inorganic arsenic at 4.8 µg/kg (mean) in wholemeal bread, as sold from Cereals.^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read source →}

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

What counts as wholemeal bread

This page covers wholemeal bread, as sold (51 results).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read 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 wholemeal bread

The table holds every extracted wholemeal bread result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 51 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 →}^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read 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 →}

11 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 3 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 wholemeal bread, 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

Wholemeal bread 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)

8 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2008	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2017	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2000	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2000–2017	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2000–2005	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2009	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2004–2009	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	mean.Same samples: 25.1 µg/kg (minimum); 37.1 µg/kg (maximum)
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	min.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	max.

7 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2003–2016	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2008	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2000–2005	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2006	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO1999–2018	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2000	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	mean.Same samples: 17.3 µg/kg (minimum); 25.1 µg/kg (maximum)
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	min.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	max.

7 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2014	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2008	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2013–2021	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2000	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2009	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO2004–2009	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	mean.Same samples: 14 µg/kg (minimum); 47 µg/kg (maximum)
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	min.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	max.

3 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2013	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	PAHO2014	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	mean.Same samples: 3.6 µg/kg (minimum); 7.2 µg/kg (maximum)
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	min.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	max.

4 findings · 1 study
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2008	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2004–2014	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2000	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	WPRO1998	median.

1 finding · 1 study
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2000	median.

2 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2000	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	mean.Same samples: 66.5 µg/kg (minimum); 147 µg/kg (maximum)
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	min.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	max.

2 findings · 1 study
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2008	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2000	median.

2 findings · 2 studies · 2 spread figures folded in
Wholemeal bread, as soldWHO GEMS/Food	EURO2007–2008	median.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	mean.Same samples: 8 µg/kg (minimum); 17 µg/kg (maximum)
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	min.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	max.

1 finding · 1 study · 2 spread figures folded in
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	mean.Same samples: 1,760 µg/kg (minimum); 2,340 µg/kg (maximum)
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	min.
Wholemeal bread, as soldMarín et al. 2018	Cereals2010–2011	max.

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 wholemeal bread Pb reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold

Reference and scope

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

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤5.2	≤10	3.5–10 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤6	≤10	3.5–10 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	30	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for wholemeal bread, 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 wholemeal bread, as sold on this basis in the completed wholemeal bread 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:wholemeal-bread-7d2971b1406f:f43765c7dc1c

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 wholemeal bread Cd reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI wholemeal bread Cd reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold. Wholemeal bread, 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	16	20	21.6
Alternative weighting	16	20	21.8

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	33	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for wholemeal bread, 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 wholemeal bread, as sold on this basis in the completed wholemeal bread 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:wholemeal-bread-a6caa25ab79f:953b5e0c1806

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 wholemeal bread tAs reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI wholemeal bread tAs reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold. Wholemeal bread, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)	Q1	Median	Q3
Primary HMI reference	≤5.56	6.75–8 (bounded)	11.5–17.3 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤5.12	6.75–8.5 (bounded)	14.5–20 (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 wholemeal bread, 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 wholemeal bread, as sold on this basis in the completed wholemeal bread 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:wholemeal-bread-d2a2391af07a:101768b53e1b

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 wholemeal bread iAs reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI wholemeal bread iAs reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold. Wholemeal bread, 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	≤0.03	12.5–12.5 (bounded)	25
Alternative weighting	≤0.03	12.5–12.5 (bounded)	25

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	2	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for wholemeal bread, 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 wholemeal bread, as sold on this basis in the completed wholemeal bread 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:wholemeal-bread-9dbfd9174517:32a65549ac53

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 wholemeal bread tHg reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI wholemeal bread tHg reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold. Wholemeal bread, 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	≤1.2	0.5–3.05 (bounded)	1.2–5 (bounded)
Alternative weighting	≤1.2	0.5–3.05 (bounded)	1.2–5 (bounded)

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	9	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for wholemeal bread, 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 wholemeal bread, as sold on this basis in the completed wholemeal bread 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:wholemeal-bread-7fbefec88e98:8ea6bcbac7db

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 wholemeal bread Al reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI wholemeal bread Al reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold. Wholemeal bread, 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	2340	3010	3670
Alternative weighting	2340	3010	3670

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	2	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for wholemeal bread, 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 wholemeal bread, as sold on this basis in the completed wholemeal bread 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:wholemeal-bread-15dba0990017:2c578aa855b9

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 wholemeal bread Sn reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI wholemeal bread Sn reference · Wholemeal bread, as sold. Wholemeal bread, 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	≤1.5	3.34–4.09 (bounded)	6.69
Alternative weighting	≤1.5	3.34–4.09 (bounded)	6.69

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

Contributing family	Reference units	Weight
WHO GEMS/Food	2	100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for wholemeal bread, 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 wholemeal bread, as sold on this basis in the completed wholemeal bread 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:wholemeal-bread-c73f9c1b4ad7:4a1888da1984

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 wholemeal bread

No study in the library compared wholemeal bread 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 wholemeal bread, as sold pools 30 subgroup units from 1 sampling family, with a median of below 10 µg/kg and a middle half spanning below 5.2 (lower quartile) and between 3.5 and 10 µg/kg (upper quartile).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For cadmium in wholemeal bread, as sold, the reference median was 20 µg/kg, with a middle half from 16 to 21.6 µg/kg across 33 units.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For total arsenic in wholemeal bread, as sold, the reference median was between 6.75 and 8 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 5.56 to between 11.5 and 17.3 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, wholemeal bread, as sold had the lowest cadmium subgroup median in EURO (16.2 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (20 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 total arsenic, the lowest regional median was in WPRO (6.5 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (19.5 µg/kg).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →} For total mercury, the lowest regional median was in EURO (0.5 µg/kg) and the highest in WPRO (10 µg/kg).^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}

Targeted wholemeal bread, as sold samples in EURO had lead lower at 33 µg/kg, against 54 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 wholemeal bread, as sold samples in EURO had cadmium lower at 7 µg/kg, against 20 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 →}

Processing, cooking and preparation

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

Mitigation for wholemeal bread

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 wholemeal bread for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 2.5 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 0.5 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 5 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) to 99 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 wholemeal bread

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

Exposure from wholemeal bread

No source in the library converted wholemeal bread 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 wholemeal bread was decided on its content: 2 occurrence extracted, 2 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.

Wholemeal bread FAQs

What heavy metals are found in wholemeal bread?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium, aluminium, tin and Cu in wholemeal bread, most often lead, cadmium and total arsenic.^{1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →}^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read source →} WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in wholemeal bread, as sold from 262 results in 3 reporting regions, with subgroup medians from 33 to 54 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 wholemeal bread?

Among GEMS/Food reporting regions, wholemeal bread, as sold had the lowest cadmium subgroup median in EURO (16.2 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (20 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 total arsenic, the lowest regional median was in WPRO (6.5 µg/kg) and the highest in EURO (19.5 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 wholemeal bread is inorganic?

Inorganic arsenic, the more toxic form, was measured in 5 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 →}^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read source →} Marín et al. 2018 reported inorganic arsenic at 4.8 µg/kg (mean) in wholemeal bread, as sold from Cereals.^{2Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, Font G, Yusà V · 2018Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670Read 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
Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain)Marín S, Pardo O, Sánchez A, Sanchis Y, Vélez D, Devesa V, et al. · Toxicology Reports 5 (2018) 654-670 · 2018 · doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2018.05.005Peer-reviewed

Sources

Browse Wholemeal bread 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 wholemeal bread record in the library: 2 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

Referenced by

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Heavy metals in Wholemeal bread

Wholemeal bread overview

What counts as wholemeal bread

Heavy metal contamination profile of wholemeal bread

How metals reach wholemeal bread

Which forms and regions measured lower

Processing, cooking and preparation

Mitigation for wholemeal bread

Trade-offs and limits of controls

Testing wholemeal bread for metals

Buying and verifying wholemeal bread

Exposure from wholemeal bread

Evidence review and remaining gaps

Wholemeal bread FAQs

References

Sources

Update history

Related ingredients

Referenced by

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