Quantification and Reduction in Heavy Metal Residues in Some Fruits and Vegetables: A Case Study Galați County, Romania

Overview

This study quantified total arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc in 80 fruit and vegetable samples from Galați County, Romania using ICP-MS, comparing contamination between vegetable/fruit market and amateur-farm produce, then testing 5% and 10% acetic-acid vinegar washing as a mitigation intervention. Market-sourced samples carried higher metal loads than amateur-farm samples across all four analytes (means up to 35% higher for As, 68% for Cd, 67% for Pb, 3% for Zn). Washing with 10% vinegar reduced As by 45%, Cd by 65%, and Pb by 33% relative to water-washed baselines, with the strongest per-commodity reductions reaching 93% (tomato As, tomato Cd) and 100% (red cherry tomato Pb); zinc was largely unaffected (~5–13% reduction). The page’s downstream value is twofold: (1) Romanian occurrence data for 21 fresh-produce commodities across four metals on a fresh-weight basis, and (2) empirical evidence on acetic-acid washing as a partial-mitigation intervention for produce metals.

Key numbers

All concentrations in µg/kg fresh weight (FW) unless noted. Reported as mean ± SD across triplicate analysis. ICP-MS limits of quantification (LoQ): As 0.743 µg/L, Cd 0.069 µg/L, Pb 0.231 µg/L, Zn 1.203 µg/L. BLD = below limit of detection.

Table 1 — Tap-water-washed baseline (n = 80; µg/kg FW)

Fruiting vegetables (market | amateur):

• Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum): As 388.86 ± 29.10 | 374.26 ± 42.10; Cd 16.48 ± 6.42 | 17.93 ± 4.59; Pb 66.81 ± 12.38 | 73.34 ± 15.72; Zn 3942.11 ± 431.55 | 4113.70 ± 125.40
• Yellow cherry tomato (L. esculentum var. cerasiforme): As 254.53 ± 29.19 | no samples; Cd 23.49 ± 3.79 | no samples; Pb 51.34 ± 7.35 | no samples; Zn 3563.84 ± 27.11 | no samples
• Red cherry tomato: As 334.37 ± 50.77 | 317.90 ± 29.14; Cd BLD | BLD; Pb 18.45 ± 4.67 | BLD; Zn 3780.45 ± 113.00 | 4113.81 ± 122.88
• Long cucumber (Cucumis sativus): As 258.23 ± 46.76 | 240.03 ± 12.41; Cd 46.41 ± 2.53 | 48.63 ± 4.61; Pb 112.04 ± 22.24 | 59.82 ± 16.25; Zn 2847.48 ± 451.78 | 3039.74 ± 73.08
• Kirby cucumber: As BLD; Cd BLD; Pb BLD; Zn 1358.74 ± 68.01 | 1853.70 ± 124.23
• Red beans (Phaseolus vulgaris): As BLD | no samples; Cd 23.90 ± 7.99 | no samples; Pb 46.15 ± 8.13 | no samples; Zn 1735.33 ± 124.80 | no samples
• White beans: As 163.04 ± 9.30 | 129.52 ± 5.91; Cd 18.76 ± 4.62 | BLD; Pb 43.60 ± 15.94 | 26.81 ± 15.94; Zn 2821.95 ± 410.66 | 4061.19 ± 124.74
• Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo): As 100.78 ± 20.41 | BLD; Cd 14.18 ± 1.05 | 18.51 ± 5.72; Pb 30.20 ± 2.55 | 35.69 ± 8.58; Zn 2184.42 ± 168.16 | 1956.63 ± 72.16

Fruits (market | amateur):

• Raspberry (Rubus idaeus): all BLD As/Cd/Pb; Zn 1374.39 ± 50.70 | 1489.97 ± 152.52
• Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): all BLD As/Cd/Pb; Zn 2366.08 ± 210.54 | no samples
• Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa): As 69.67 ± 26.76 | 73.95 ± 15.99; Cd 17.78 ± 3.50 | BLD; Pb 10.78 ± 1.85 | 9.92 ± 4.38; Zn 1143.59 ± 168.11 | 1374.25 ± 71.85
• Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus): As 68.40 ± 24.06 | 43.13 ± 38.85; Cd/Pb BLD; Zn 1102.96 ± 117.96 | 1305.56 ± 31.76
• Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. grossum): all BLD As/Cd/Pb; Zn 3807.96 ± 217.90 | 1817.25 ± 40.87
• Chestnut (Castanea sativa): As 27.47 ± 4.27 | no samples; Cd 12.74 ± 1.30 | no samples; Pb BLD; Zn 3807.96 ± 217.90 | no samples
• Apples (Malus domestica): all BLD As/Cd/Pb; Zn 946.53 ± 62.51 | 909.56 ± 72.67
• Plums (Prunus domestica): As 116.92 ± 15.97 | 132.36 ± 21.03; Cd/Pb BLD; Zn 596.93 ± 49.63 | 738.75 ± 132.90
• Pear (Pyrus communis): As BLD; Cd 15.19 ± 2.95 | 15.82 ± 3.97; Pb 78.13 ± 14.95 | 69.15 ± 23.18; Zn 440.15 ± 99.11 | 379.37 ± 63.19
• Quince (Cydonia oblonga): all BLD As/Cd/Pb; Zn 3218.41 ± 218.26 | 2993.33 ± 124.85
• Grapes (Vitis vinifera): As 81.85 ± 45.11 | 48.74 ± 6.94; Cd 14.78 ± 5.71 | BLD; Pb 27.48 ± 15.75 | 18.32 ± 5.41; Zn 1362.93 ± 85.83 | 1288.26 ± 267.83

Leafy vegetables (market | amateur):

• Cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata (L.) f. alba L.): As 19.78 ± 12.59 | BLD; Cd 9.70 ± 1.31 | BLD; Pb 25.41 ± 7.72 | BLD; Zn 2814.32 ± 121.77 | 2885.18 ± 138.52
• Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus): As BLD; Cd/Pb BLD; Zn 4964.44 ± 280.40 | no samples
• Parsley (Petroselinum crispum convar. crispum (Denst.)): As BLD; Cd/Pb BLD; Zn 1366.95 ± 126.54 | 1698.12 ± 233.44
• Lovage (Levisticum officinale Koch.): no samples in market; amateur Zn 428.10 ± 55.18
• Dill (Anethum graveolens): As 7.60 ± 4.11 | no samples; Cd 23.90 ± 7.99 | no samples; Pb 79.41 ± 13.01 | no samples; Zn 994.47 ± 235.14 | no samples
• Lettuce (Lactuca sativa convar. capitata): As 1.44 ± 0.60 | 0.81 ± 0.51; Cd 46.88 ± 11.16 | 39.11 ± 4.54; Pb 155.07 ± 28.25 | 73.25 ± 17.70; Zn 1055.13 ± 61.07 | 3030.91 ± 777.65
• Celery (Apium graveolens L. conv. rapaceum (Mill.)): As BLD; Cd/Pb BLD; Zn 741.26 ± 267.80 | 742.48 ± 168.77

Bulbs (market | amateur):

• Garlic (Allium sativum ssp. vulgare): As 207.88 ± 82.87 | 153.52 ± 31.21; Cd 0.14 ± 0.06 | BLD; Pb BLD; Zn 5139.25 ± 525.83 | 6178.18 ± 1468.35
• Onion (Allium cepa): As BLD; Cd/Pb BLD; Zn 2737.88 ± 336.55 | 1163.25 ± 153.30

Root vegetables (market | amateur):

• Potato (Solanum tuberosum): As BLD; Cd 28.60 ± 12.84 | BLD; Pb 65.41 ± 27.71 | 29.70 ± 77.3; Zn 6256.99 ± 2200.29 | 7640.07 ± 1095.27
• Parsley root (P. crispum convar. radicosum): all BLD As/Cd/Pb/Zn
• Carrot (Daucus carota L. conv. sativus): As BLD | no samples; Cd 5.18 ± 1.69 | no samples; Pb 14.56 ± 5.69 | no samples; Zn 1039.56 ± 174.48 | no samples

Category-level means (tap-water-washed baseline)

• As: range <LoQ to 388.86 µg/kg FW. Fruiting vegetables 338.86 µg/kg FW; bulbs 207.88 µg/kg FW; fruits 132.36 µg/kg FW; leafy vegetables 19.78 µg/kg FW; root vegetables <LoQ. Market samples carried up to 35% more As than amateur (market mean 85.08; amateur mean 63.09 µg/kg FW).
• Cd: range <LoQ to 48.63 µg/kg FW (mean 8.04). Fruiting vegetables 16.31; leafy vegetables 8.70; root vegetables 6.75; fruits 3.82; bulbs 0.03 µg/kg FW. Market samples carried up to 68% more Cd than amateur (market mean 9.81; amateur 5.83 µg/kg FW).
• Pb: range <LoQ to 155.07 µg/kg FW (mean 22.61). Leafy vegetables 43.32; fruiting vegetables 35.35; root vegetables 26.66; fruits 10.82; bulbs <LoQ. Market samples carried up to 67% more Pb than amateur (market mean 27.50; amateur 16.50 µg/kg FW).
• Zn: range <LoQ to 7640.07 µg/kg FW (mean 2268.22). Bulbs 3804.64; root vegetables 2987.32; fruiting vegetables 2955.93; leafy vegetables 1886.92; fruits 1509.48 µg/kg FW. Amateur samples carried up to 3% more Zn than market (amateur 2301.92; market 2241.26 µg/kg FW).

Tables 2 and 3 — Mean concentrations after vinegar washing (n = 80; µg/kg FW)

Selected commodities (those that recorded measurable metals after tap-water washing) re-washed with 5% or 10% vinegar (3–10 min, 30 °C immersion). For brevity, only commodities and metals with non-BLD values are listed.

5% vinegar wash (Table 2; market | amateur):

• Tomato: As 202.19 ± 19.22 | 175.40 ± 19.06; Cd 12.20 ± 2.23 | 7.00 ± 1.91; Pb 53.96 ± 9.52 | 55.45 ± 5.02; Zn 3328.74 ± 212.85 | 3937.54 ± 80.91
• Yellow cherry tomato: As 188.89 ± 11.96; Cd 17.27 ± 0.97; Pb 37.73 ± 2.92; Zn 3251.94 ± 49.52
• Red cherry tomato: As 243.73 ± 9.60 | 231.29 ± 2.39; Pb 14.24 ± 3.75 | BLD; Zn 3753.05 ± 47.37 | 4032.43 ± 60.30
• Long cucumber: As 220.67 ± 18.93 | 212.70 ± 5.34; Cd 41.23 ± 0.92 | 46.21 ± 2.22; Pb 76.19 ± 8.07 | 45.26 ± 5.14; Zn 2856.76 ± 481.35 | 3012.07 ± 40.88
• Zucchini: As 91.35 ± 11.41; Pb 22.98 ± 0.94 | 28.61 ± 14.47; Zn 1996.25 ± 14.47 | 1943.09 ± 65.85
• Strawberry: As 52.79 ± 12.89 | 66.44 ± 16.86; Pb 11.19 (mean) | 11.83 (mean); Zn 1119.83 ± 120.00 | 1354.20 ± 33.55
• Pear: Cd 14.79 ± 1.33 | 16.78 ± 0.40; Pb 74.94 ± 4.37 | 63.97 ± 19.74; Zn 437.57 ± 98.91 | 374.30 ± 67.95
• Grapes: As 76.63 ± 14.46 | 48.71 ± 5.38; Cd 14.66 ± 2.35 | BLD; Pb 24.44 ± 14.31 | 16.98 ± 4.96; Zn 1354.49 ± 97.81 | 1237.83 ± 188.78
• Cabbage: Zn 2695.65 ± 217.47 | 2858.42 ± 41.64
• Lettuce: Cd 43.67 ± 1.81 | 33.78 ± 6.62; Pb 108.79 ± 5.60 | 71.49 ± 3.06; Zn 1035.12 ± 22.58 | 2949.49 ± 462.23
• Garlic: As 191.13 ± 54.07 | 151.87 ± 10.66; Zn 5003.11 ± 157.42 | 5293.34 ± 367.19
• Potato: Cd 27.97 ± 9.42 (market); Pb 63.47 ± 1.48 | 13.22 ± 1.82; Zn 6134.38 ± 476.38 | 7084.80 ± 727.80
• Carrot: Zn 1022.26 ± 91.29

10% vinegar wash (Table 3; market | amateur):

• Tomato: As 217.02 ± 16.92 | 181.48 ± 9.20; Cd 9.92 ± 0.28 | 7.88 ± 0.48; Pb 53.54 ± 3.19 | 47.90 ± 0.90; Zn 3249.31 ± 149.70 | 3638.93 ± 157.78
• Yellow cherry tomato: As 184.12 ± 8.31; Cd 16.93 ± 1.32; Pb 32.95 ± 1.79; Zn 3319.00 ± 86.28
• Red cherry tomato: As 223.28 ± 15.74 | 206.65 ± 5.69; Pb 8.55 ± 1.05 | BLD; Zn 3756.90 ± 65.57 | 3917.89 ± 94.31
• Long cucumber: As 212.82 ± 4.09 | 200.74 ± 2.02; Cd 39.99 ± 1.50 | 41.81 ± 4.79; Pb 102.45 ± 6.74 | 53.33 ± 14.95; Zn 2485.62 ± 122.53 | 2951.89 ± 62.65
• Zucchini: As 82.87 ± 6.82 (market); Pb 20.60 ± 1.32 | 23.42 ± 7.58; Zn 2160.86 ± 53.14 | 1923.14 ± 29.58
• Strawberry: As 44.16 ± 2.63 | 45.16 ± 5.81; Zn 1059.94 ± 26.37 | 1361.67 ± 19.76
• Pear: Cd 14.94 ± 1.46 | 15.79 ± 1.41; Pb 69.03 ± 1.37 | 64.36 ± 19.48; Zn 393.68 ± 52.57 | 377.08 ± 54.10
• Grapes: As 78.35 ± 3.55 | 46.25 ± 5.22; Cd 12.65 ± 0.81 | BLD; Pb 20.74 ± 12.80 | 14.39 ± 3.95; Zn 1240.40 ± 127.27 | 1125.31 ± 84.77
• Cabbage: Zn 2565.82 ± 133.88 | 1473.58 ± 171.45
• Lettuce: Cd 36.16 ± 4.58 | 33.20 ± 7.66; Pb 94.52 ± 4.53 | 73.14 ± 1.97; Zn 1031.40 ± 17.28 | 2064.13 ± 61.28
• Garlic: As 167.03 ± 12.94 | 129.89 ± 4.11; Zn 4682.37 ± 113.49 | 4731.25 ± 477.80
• Potato: Pb 60.24 ± 5.33 | 30.50 ± 15.07; Zn 5628.20 ± 775.49 | 6022.00 ± 120.16
• Carrot: Zn 943.34 ± 45.57 (market)

Tables 4, 5, 6 — Pooled mean concentrations across all washed samples

Vinegar washing reduction summary (pooled means, % reduction vs water-washed baseline)

• 5% vinegar (Figure 1): As 35%, Cd 37%, Pb 33%, Zn 5%.
• 10% vinegar (Figure 2): As 45%, Cd 65%, Pb 33%, Zn 13%.
• 10% vs 5% comparison (Figure 3): As 8%, Cd 20%, Pb 0%, Zn 8% additional reduction at 10%.

Highest per-commodity reductions observed:

• 5% vinegar: As 93% (tomato), Cd 79% (tomato), Pb 42% (long cucumber). Zinc reductions only 1–11% across all commodities.
• 10% vinegar: Pb 100% (red cherry tomato), Cd 93% (tomato), As 91% (tomato). Zn reductions 1–32% (lettuce highest at 32%).

Cases where vinegar washing had no significant effect: pear (Cd 2%, Pb 6% at 5%), grapes (Pb 1% at 5%), garlic (As 5% at 5%), potato (Cd 2% at 5%; Pb 5% at 10%), pear (Cd 1% at 10%).

Regulatory comparison

National (Romanian) maximum allowable limits (MAL; M.Of 173/13 March 2002) and EU Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 cited as benchmarks. All measured values fell below the Romanian national MAL (As 0.5 mg/kg; Cd 0.05–0.2 mg/kg by commodity; Pb 0.5 mg/kg; Zn 5–15 mg/kg). However, several As values (particularly tomato 388.86 µg/kg FW, ~3.9× over) exceeded the Codex Alimentarius recommended limit of 0.1 mg/kg for As in fruits and vegetables. One lettuce sample (108.79 µg/kg FW Pb after 5% vinegar) exceeded the Codex 0.1 mg/kg Pb recommendation.

Methods (brief)

Sample collection. 80 samples (45 market, 35 amateur farm) collected August 2020–December 2021 from three Galați County localities (Tecuci, Matca, Târgu Bujor; GPS coordinates given). Samples transported in clean polyethylene bags, processed within 1–3 days; only edible parts analysed.

Sample preparation. Samples washed under tap water (no distilled water) to identify whether tap water alone reduces metals. For vinegar-wash arm, samples immersed in glass bowls with 5% or 10% acetic-acid vinegar (white-wine vinegar, available in any grocery store) for 5–10 min at 30 °C depending on commodity size. Fresh samples weighed, cut, dried at 105 °C on FD 53 Binder (Darmstadt, Germany) for 72–92 h until stable weight, ground on Retsch 110 automatic mill, sieved through 2 mm. Concentrations measured on dry-weight basis then converted to fresh-weight for comparison with national MAL.

Digestion. Milestone START D microwave digestion (Sorisole, Italy): 0.5 g sample + 7 mL 65% HNO₃ (Merk, supra pure) + 2 mL H₂O₂ (≥30%, Sigma-Aldrich) in Teflon vessels.

Instrumentation. Thermo Fisher Scientific iCAP Q ICP-MS (Waltham, MA, USA) with ASX-520 autosampler, Ni sampler and skimmer cones, micro-concentric nebulizer, cyclonic spray chamber, 1.5 mm injector. Daily M⁺ optimization; Ba²⁺/Ba⁺ and Ce²⁺/CeO⁺ kept < 2%. Argon 5.0 and helium 6.0 (Messer, 99.99% purity).

Isotopes monitored: ⁶⁵Zn, ⁷⁵As, ¹¹¹Cd, ²⁰⁸Pb. No As speciation (total As only; reported as tAs in this wiki).

Calibration / QC. External calibration with multi-element ICP Multi-Element Standard XXI CertiPUR (Merk). Internal standards Ge, Tb, Rh, Sc in 1% HNO₃ at 50 µg/L in all samples, blanks, and standards. Tuning solution TUNE B iCAP Q (Ba, Bi, Ce, Co, In, Li, U at 1.0 µg/L in 2% HNO₃ + 0.5% HCl); RSD < 5%. Calibration curve at 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 µL points. CRM recovery 97–102% for each element; recovery from spike assays (n = 3, 25 µL level) 90.04–112.36%. Triplicate samples (n = 3), variation coefficient < 5%, RSD < 5%.

LoD/LoQ. LoD = 3 × SD/s; LoQ = 10 × SD/s. Reported LoQ values (instrumental, µg/L): As 0.743, Cd 0.069, Pb 0.231, Zn 1.203.

Statistics. Mean ± SD of triplicates. Two-way ANOVA via SPSS v24, Duncan test at p ≤ 0.005, supported by Excel 365 and Addinsoft v15.5.03.3707.

Implications

Certification. Provides Romanian fresh-produce occurrence data (n = 80, 21 commodities, four analytes) on a fresh-weight basis suitable for Fresh Fruit, Non-Root Vegetables, Root and Tuber Vegetables, and Leafy / Green Vegetables, Other. Origin-of-produce splits (vegetable/fruit market vs. amateur farms) document that market produce in this dataset carries 35–68% higher As/Cd/Pb than amateur-farm produce, suggesting commercial supply-chain inputs (fertilizers, soil, irrigation, atmospheric deposition near transport routes) are dominant drivers over farm-gate exposure. Total As only (no inorganic As speciation), so the Codex 0.1 mg/kg recommended As limit comparison must be interpreted as a total-As exceedance rather than an iAs threshold.

Courses. Demonstrates that acetic-acid washing has a measurable, limited, and metal-specific effect on produce metals. Cd is most mobilizable (37% at 5%, 65% at 10% pooled mean); As intermediate (35% / 45%); Pb intermediate but identical at 5% and 10% (33% / 33%, with no additional benefit from concentration doubling); Zn least mobilizable (5% / 13%). Per-commodity behavior diverges sharply: tomato and long cucumber show large reductions across all metals; pear and grapes show essentially none; garlic resists As reduction. The 10% concentration gives meaningfully larger Cd reductions but no extra Pb reduction over 5%, which is the most actionable course-content finding for consumer washing guidance.

App. Useful as Romanian-baseline data for tomato, cucumber, beans, zucchini, cabbage, lettuce, parsley, celery, garlic, onions, potatoes, carrot, apple, pear, grapes, plums, strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, and (as wash-treatment evidence) vinegar. Fresh-weight basis; relevant for ingredient contamination_profile Romanian-region entries during the Part 9 synthesis pass.

Verification notes

Merge-enhanced 2026-05-28 from the 2026-05-14 source page against the original PDF (Manual Fetch source-retrieval / condiment_papers / 02_Vinegars). Changes:

• raw_handle corrected from generic manual-fetch-source-retrieval to canonical MFK_quantification-and-reduction-in-heavy-metal-residu.
• raw_path corrected from truncated …Some Frui.pdf to the actual filename ending …A Case Study Gal.pdf.
• license clarified from CC BY to CC BY 4.0 (article footer specifies version).
• access_url and raw_sha256 added.
• Ingredient slug list rewritten to canonical taxonomy: tomatoes→tomato, strawberry→strawberries, onion→onions, potato→potatoes; added missing measured commodities (cabbage, lettuce, parsley, celery, raspberries, watermelon, pear, plums). garlic and zucchini declared via their alias resolution (garlic → onions, zucchini → squash). vinegar retained as the washing-reagent commodity touched by the paper’s mitigation arm.
• Product slug list expanded from fresh-fruit only to the four locked HMTc rows touched: fresh-fruit, non-root-vegetables, root-tuber-vegetables, leafy-vegetables-other.
• sample_population expanded to itemize the 21 commodities, the market/amateur split, the collection window, and the three Galați County localities.
• Key numbers section was previously a 3-paragraph thin summary with the phrase “not fully extracted; large table”. Replaced with full Table 1 transcription (per-commodity As/Cd/Pb/Zn, market vs amateur, mean ± SD), pooled category means for all four metals, Tables 2–3 transcriptions for 5% and 10% vinegar arms, Tables 4–6 pooled reduction summaries, and Figures 1–3 percent-reduction breakdowns including the highest per-commodity reductions (As 93% tomato, Cd 93% tomato, Pb 100% red cherry tomato at 10%).
• Methods section expanded from one paragraph to subsection-organized detail: collection, prep, digestion, instrumentation, isotopes monitored (with explicit ⁷⁵As-only no-speciation flag → tAs in metals), calibration/QC, LoD/LoQ, statistics. Vendor/material names retained per Part 12 Exception 2 (instrument, reference material, software, digestion equipment).
• Implications rewritten as Certification/Courses/App structure per Part 6 template, removing the legacy [[mitigation/washing-decontamination]] and Wiki pages updated on ingest section (page does not exist; routing layer handles fan-out).
• Brand firewall: paper names no commercial brands in measured-contamination context; the vinegar wash reagent is described generically (“white-wine vinegar available in any grocery store”). No Part 12 violations introduced.
• HMTc firewall: no threshold proposals; observation-data only. The Codex As/Pb exceedance flags are the paper’s own regulatory framing, not synthesis claims.
• Speciation discipline: ⁷⁵As measured (total As, no iAs/MMA/DMA/AsB speciation), so metals uses tAs, not iAs. Zn included as the paper’s microelement, treated here as an additional analyte without speciation.

Auto-audit editorial review (2026-05-28, fresh-context Agent) returned verdict REVISE with one ⚠️ finding under Check 2 — claim that [[ingredients/garlic]] and [[ingredients/zucchini]] would surface as routing_unresolved.csv entries. Verified false positive against source: the linked reference record declares aliases: [onion, garlic, allium-vegetables] and the linked reference record declares aliases: [zucchini]; the routing audit script (the editorial record line ~190) explicitly accepts alias-resolved slugs (if (ingredientAliases.has(ingredient)) continue); the post-ingest routing audit ran clean (0 unresolved entries for this source). Per-commodity declaration preserves accurate provenance — the paper measures garlic and zucchini as distinct commodities with non-BLD As, Cd, Pb, and Zn values across both market and amateur arms — even though their routing target is shared via alias with their parent slugs. Whether garlic and zucchini eventually warrant their own ingredient pages is a Part 10 5-paper-threshold question for future synthesis, out of scope for this skill execution per the hard constraint against new-ingredient-page creation. Checks 1, 3, 4, and 5 returned clean. No content changes applied; finding rejected with rationale.

Update history

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