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Bread and baked goods

This page is a scaffolded entry for HMTc Taxonomy v2.0 Category 3 (Grains, Cereals, and Rice Products), Row 2: Bread and baked goods. Evidence ingest into this row is in progress; this page is the routing destination for source-page declarations of products: [bread-and-baked-goods]. Sections below are populated by the routing layer (CLAUDE.md Part 5b) as sources land. Where a section is empty, the row has not yet accumulated contributing sources of the required kind.

Who this page is for

Brand legal teams
What the peer-reviewed and regulatory literature reports for heavy-metal occurrence in Bread and baked goods, with applicable regulatory caps and source-traceable findings. Use this page to evaluate certification or class-action exposure on a literature-anchored basis.
Brand regulatory affairs / QA
The current evidence base for Bread and baked goods, the levers most-effective at reducing heavy-metal load, and the applicable regulatory limits with jurisdiction and basis.
Retailers and category buyers
The row-level assortment risk profile and where the literature distinguishes higher-risk from lower-risk product configurations within this row.
HMT&C staff (internal)
HMT&C certification thresholds for products in this row are developed under the certification program at heavymetaltested.com, not on this public page. The Index and HMT&C operate on the same evidence base but apply different publication rules; see the methodology for the separation.

Methodology

This page reports what the cited sources say about heavy-metal concentrations in bread and baked goods. Speciation is non-substitutable per CLAUDE.md Part 14 (iAs vs tAs, MeHg vs tHg, Cr-VI vs total Cr). Basis is preserved (finished-product as sold unless the source specifies otherwise; see each row for the basis label). Non-detect handling follows each source’s reporting convention. Pooling is avoided across LOD/LOQ, period, geography, and analytical-basis differences. HMT&C certification thresholds for products in this row are developed under the certification program at heavymetaltested.com, not on this page; this public page reports literature evidence only.

The applicable regulatory jurisdictions for this row are: FDA, EU, Codex.

Literature Evidence Summary

Pending ingest. The routing layer will surface direct-row-fit sources here as they are added to the corpus with products: [bread-and-baked-goods] in source-page frontmatter.

Source Evidence Inventory

Pending ingest. The routing layer populates this section from the source-page set declaring products: [bread-and-baked-goods].

Broad Product Context: Author-Scope Index

Pending ingest. The routing layer surfaces sources whose author-stated scope is broader than this row (route_kind: broad_product_context) as they are added.

Federal/Regulatory Limits vs Field Findings

Pending ingest. The applicable regulatory jurisdictions for this row are recorded in the page frontmatter; the crosswalk table is generated by tools/apply-product-crosswalk-sections.mjs once regulation pages and field-evidence sources are routed to this row with structured limit values.

Levers to reduce contamination

Practical interventions to reduce heavy-metal load in this row, ordered by impact magnitude. Each lever names the magnitude of the effect with a cited source; cross-links to dedicated mitigation pages where they exist.

  • Sourcing leversPending ingest.
  • Agronomic leversPending ingest. (See agronomic for general agronomic mitigation context.)
  • Processing leversPending ingest. (See processing.)
  • Formulation leversPending ingest. (See formulation.)
  • Testing and QC leversPending ingest. (See testing-and-qc when published.)
  • Packaging and storage leversPending ingest. (See packaging-and-storage when published.)

How standards math uses this page

HMT&C certification thresholds for this row are developed under the certification program at heavymetaltested.com, not on this page. The row-standard for this row is an aggregate computed from the contributing source pool in the row’s native finished-product basis; it is not a per-source decoration of any single value cited on this page. This public page reports literature evidence only.

Historical recalls and enforcement

Pending ingest. Regulatory events (recalls, enforcement actions, import alerts) relevant to this row will be added as agency records are ingested into the corpus.

Sources

Pending ingest. The Source Legend below is auto-generated by tools/evidence/build-source-legend.mjs once source pages declaring products: [bread-and-baked-goods] are added.

Sources

Auto-generated from source-page frontmatter. The “Used on this page for” column is populated by the orchestrator’s POPULATE-SOURCE-LEGEND action; pending entries appear as *[awaiting synthesis]*.

#CitationYearTypeUsed on this page for
1ANSES 2026. Opinion of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety on the results of the Third French Total Diet Study (TDS3) - Acrylamide, aluminium, silver, cadmium, mercury and lead, ANSES Opinion, Request No 2019-SA-00102026Government reportFR Al, Ag, Cd, Pb, tHg, iHg, MeHg occurrence in French TDS3 foods selected from 276 foods across 44 groups, with 718 samples collected in Loiret, Puy-de-Dome, and… (n=718)
2Asadi et al. 2025. Health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in bread from Iranian markets using Monte Carlo simulation, Scientific Reports2025Peer-reviewedIR Pb, Cd, tHg, Al, Cr, Ni, Cu, Fe, Zn, Co occurrence in 248 bread samples collected from 11 Iranian provinces during winter 2020; four traditional bread types: lavash (n=69), taftoon… (n=248)
3Asadi et al. 2025. Human health risk assessment of arsenic and potentially toxic elements exposure in bread and wheat flour in Northeast Iran, PLoS ONE 20(7): e03276522025Peer-reviewedIR tAs, Al, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb, tHg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, V occurrence in Flour, dough, and bread from 90 bakeries across five city regions (North, South, East, West, Central) in Mashhad,… (n=270)
4Salahel et al. 2025. Assessment of toxic heavy metals in commonly consumed foods in Egypt and their implications for public health and safety, Scientific Reports2025Peer-reviewedEG Pb, Cd, Cr, tAs occurrence in Fifty-four food and beverage samples collected January-December 2022 from local markets in Qena Governorate, southern Egypt: beverages (n=20;… (n=54)
5Song et al. 2024. Development of a Fast Method Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Coupled with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Exploration of the Reduction Mechanism of Cr(VI) in Foods, Toxics 12(5): 3252024Peer-reviewedCN Cr-VI, Cr occurrence in Seven commercially purchased food samples from a local supermarket in Nanjing, China — milk powder, rice flour, whole… (n=7)
6Gacal et al. 2023. Cadmium and lead content in gluten and gluten-free bread available on Polish market - potential health risk to consumers, Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis2023Peer-reviewedPL/EU Cd, Pb occurrence in 50 bread samples purchased in Silesia Province, Poland: 10 gluten-free, 12 wheat-rye, 20 wheat, 8 rye (n=50)
7Noh et al. 2023. Monitoring arsenic species concentration in rice-based processed products distributed in South Korean markets and related risk assessment, Food Science and Biotechnology 32(10):1361-13722023Peer-reviewedKR iAs, tAs occurrence in 239 rice-based processed foods purchased from South Korean domestic markets February–August 2019 across ten categories: home-meal-replacement (HMR) rice… (n=239)
8Oduro et al. 2023. Health risks of potentially toxic metals in cereal-based breakfast meals in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana, Discover Food 3:252023Peer-reviewedGH tAs, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Mn occurrence in Locally produced cereal-based breakfast meals (31 breakfast cereals, 20 biscuits, 3 bread types) from markets in Kumasi, Ghana;… (n=54)
9Sofyan 2023. Uji Cemaran Mikroba Dan Cemaran Logam Bolu Kukus Berbasis Pisang Ambon (Musa acuminta Colla) Sebagai Camilan Alternatif Pada Pasien Hipertensi, JP: Jurnal Pharmacopoeia, 2(1): 23-322023Peer-reviewedID Pb, Cu, Zn, tAs occurrence in Three laboratory-prepared formulations of banana-based steamed sponge cake (bolu kukus pisang ambon) varying the pisang ambon (Musa acuminata… (n=3)
10Haider et al. 2022. Nutritional Quality and Safety Characteristics of Imported Biscuits Marketed in Basrah, Iraq, Applied Sciences2022Peer-reviewedIQ/ES/IR Pb, Cd occurrence in 36 imported biscuit samples (9 brands per country of origin × 4 countries: Spain, Iran, Turkey, UAE) sold… (n=36)
11Saraiva et al. 2021. Speciation analysis of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in bread and breakfast cereals using species-specific isotope dilution and HPLC-ICP-MS, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis2021Peer-reviewedFR/DK/EU Cr, Cr-VI occurrence in 22 retail samples — 11 breads (Danish rye/rugbrød, malt flour, wheat ‘burger’ buns, spelt, wheat ‘pita’, wheat baguette,… (n=22)
12BfR 2020. FAQs about aluminium in food and products intended for consumers, BfR FAQ of 20 July 20202020Government reportDE/EU Al occurrence in null
13EL et al. 2020. Aluminum exposure from food in the population of Lebanon, Toxicology Reports2020Peer-reviewedLB Al occurrence in Ninety-seven food items collected May–September 2018 from the Beirut retail market (105 sampled; 8 discarded for turbidity), comprising… (n=97)
14El-Hassanin et al. 2020. Risk assessment of human exposure to lead and cadmium in maize grains cultivated in soils irrigated either with low-quality water or freshwater, Toxicology Reports 7:10-152020Peer-reviewedEG Pb, Cd occurrence in Soil (0–30 cm), irrigation water, and maize grain composites collected in August 2017 from nine cultivated sites across… (n=27)
15Wang et al. 2020. Contamination and health risk assessment of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and aluminum from a total diet study of Jilin Province, China, Food Science & Nutrition2020Peer-reviewedCN Pb, tAs, Cd, Al occurrence in Jilin Province total-diet-study composites across 12 food groups and 48 product groups, with consumption inputs for 7700 residents…
16Hernandez et al. 2019. Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in milk, dairy and cereal products and dietary exposure assessment, Food Additives & Contaminants Part B: Surveillance2019Peer-reviewedFR/EU Cr-VI, Cr-III, Cr-total occurrence in Sixty-eight food samples representing the French population’s national milk, dairy, and cereal product consumption: 38 dairy products (8… (n=68)
17Wang et al. 2019. Dietary Lead Exposure and Associated Health Risks in Guangzhou, China, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health2019Peer-reviewedCN Pb occurrence in Food safety risk monitoring samples from Guangzhou, China, collected during 2014-2017 across 27 food categories; consumption inputs came… (n=6339)
18Takanashi et al. 2018. Survey of Aluminium Content of Processed Food Using Baking Powder (2015–2016), Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi (Food Hygiene and Safety Science)2018Peer-reviewedJP Al occurrence in Japanese confectionery, baked goods, flour-processed foods, and pre-mix powders distributed in Tokyo-area markets, 2015–2016; potentially containing aluminium-potassium-sulfate (alum)… (n=123)
19Stahl et al. 2017. Migration of aluminum from food contact materials to food - a health risk for consumers? Part I of III: exposure to aluminum, release of aluminum, tolerable weekly intake (TWI), toxicological effects of aluminum, study design, and methods, Environmental Sciences Europe2017Peer-reviewedDE/EU Al occurrence in Hessian State Laboratory aluminum results for 1,825 foodstuff samples across 30 product groups, plus Part I study-design context… (n=1825)
20EFSA 2015. Scientific Opinion on the risks to public health related to the presence of nickel in food and drinking water, EFSA Journal 2015;13(2):4002, 202 pp.2015Government reportEU Ni occurrence in 18,885 food samples and 25,700 drinking water samples (final dataset after exclusions) submitted to EFSA from 15 European… (n=18885)
21Baxter et al. 2015. Total Diet Study of metals and other elements in food, Food and Environment Research Agency report for the UK Food Standards Agency, Fera report 15/06, project FS1020812015Government reportGB Al, Sb, tAs, iAs, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, tHg, Mo, Ni, Pd, Pt, Sn, Tl, Zn occurrence in 3312 retail food samples from 24 UK locations, combined into 138 prepared-as-consumed food-category composites and 28 food-group composites (n=3312)
22EFSA 2014. Dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic in the European population, EFSA Journal 2014;12(3):35972014Government reportEU iAs, tAs concentrations (n=103773)
23FSA 2014. Survey of metals and other elements in commercial infant foods, infant formula and non-infant specific foods, Food Standards Agency report2014Government reportGB Al, Sb, tAs, iAs, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, tHg, Ni, Se, Sn, Zn occurrence in Forty-seven infant formula samples, 200 commercial infant foods, and 50 composite ‘other foods’ samples purchased from UK retail… (n=297)
24EFSA 2012. Cadmium dietary exposure in the European population, EFSA Journal 2012;10(1):25512012Government reportEU Cd occurrence in Cadmium occurrence results in food submitted to EFSA from 22 EU Member States, 3 European Economic Area or… (n=178541)
25Loutfy et al. 2012. Analysis and exposure assessment of some heavy metals in foodstuffs from Ismailia city, Egypt, Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry2012Peer-reviewedEG Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu occurrence in About 350 locally produced individual food samples purchased in 2007 from four local markets around Ismailia city, Egypt,… (n=117)
26Committee on Toxicity of 2008. COT Statement on the 2006 UK Total Diet Study of Metals and Other Elements, Committee on Toxicity statement2008Government reportGB Al, Sb, tAs, iAs, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, tHg, Mo, Ni, Se, Sn, Tl, Zn occurrence in 2006 UK Total Diet Study: 119 food categories combined into 20 prepared-as-consumed food groups for metals and other… (n=20)
27EFSA 2008. Safety of Aluminium from Dietary Intake, The EFSA Journal 2008;754:1-342008Government reportEU Al concentrations
28EC 2004. Assessment of the dietary exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury of the population of the EU Member States, Reports on tasks for scientific cooperation, SCOOP Task 3.2.112004Government reportEU/BE/DK tAs, Cd, Pb, tHg occurrence in Occurrence, consumption, and intake submissions for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury from EU Member States and Norway under…
29Dabeka et al. 1995. Survey of Lead, Cadmium, Fluoride, Nickel, and Cobalt in Food Composites and Estimation of Dietary Intakes of These Elements by Canadians in 1986-1988, Journal of AOAC International1995Peer-reviewedCA Pb, Cd, Ni, Co occurrence in Five Canadian total-diet composite groups, each with 113 composites and 39 composite subsets, prepared from foods purchased in… (n=760)

Page history

The five most recent substantive edits to this page. The full version history lives in git; when DOI minting comes online (see schema docs), each entry below will also link to a version-pinned DataCite DOI.

CommitDateDescription
b0f3d382026-06-12batch | corpus rescreen b04 old terminal skips