CFIA 2025 — Toxic metals in selected foods, April 2022–March 2023
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) conducted a targeted survey of 470 samples of duck eggs, juices and nectars, dried mushrooms, spices, sugar and syrups, sweets, and vinegars collected from retail locations in 11 major cities across four Canadian geographic regions, testing for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The survey found that dried mushrooms had the highest concentrations of all four toxic metals by a substantial margin, while juices and nectars, and duck eggs, had the lowest detection rates. All juice and nectar arsenic results met Canada’s 0.1 ppm tolerance for ready-to-serve beverages, lead was not detected in any juice or nectar sample, and Health Canada determined that no samples posed a concern to human health.
Key numbers
Table 2 — Detected metal levels by product type (ppm = mg/kg):
| Product type | n | % pos As | As avg (max) | % pos Cd | Cd avg (max) | % pos Pb | Pb avg (max) | % pos Hg | Hg avg (max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duck eggs | 16 | 0 | ND | 0 | ND | 0 | ND | 6 | 0.0005 (0.0005) |
| Juices and nectars | 85 | 4 | 0.007 (<LOD–0.007) | 0 | ND | 0 | ND | 0 | ND |
| Mushrooms | 69 | 99 | 0.384 (<LOD–1.31) | 97 | 0.588 (<LOD–1.71) | 100 | 0.157 (<LOD–1.92) | 96 | 0.216 (<LOD–3.38) |
| Spices | 115 | 95 | 0.070 (<LOD–0.642) | 92 | 0.066 (<LOD–0.390) | 97 | 0.189 (<LOD–1.51) | 37 | 0.010 (<LOD–0.049) |
| Sugar and syrups | 67 | 28 | 0.038 (<LOD–0.127) | 0 | ND | 24 | 0.029 (<LOD–0.128) | 3 | 0.007 (<LOD–0.009) |
| Sweets | 78 | 19 | 0.014 (<LOD–0.047) | 3 | 0.009 (<LOD–0.010) | 40 | 0.012 (<LOD–0.056) | 5 | 0.007 (<LOD–0.008) |
| Vinegar | 40 | 40 | 0.018 (<LOD–0.106) | 3 | 0.025 (<LOD–0.025) | 58 | 0.026 (<LOD–0.179) | 0 | ND |
LOD range: 0.0001–0.01 ppm depending on analyte. Average values calculated from quantifiable results only. ND = not detected above LOD.
Mushroom highlights: highest Cd observed in dried shiitake; highest As (1.31 ppm) in dried chanterelle; 5 of 69 samples had elevated Hg (0.871–3.38 ppm) from dried porcini. Seven mushroom samples exceeded historical Cd or Pb levels.
Historical comparison (Table 3): Mushroom results in 2022 broadly comparable to 2020 and 2022 pesticide-and-metals surveys once product type (dried vs canned) is accounted for. Spice results comparable to 2017, 2013, 2012, 2011 surveys.
Methods (brief)
ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory under contract to the Government of Canada. Samples analyzed as sold (not as consumed). Results reported on an as-sold wet-weight basis. LOD range 0.0001–0.01 ppm depending on analyte and instrument sensitivity improvement versus prior survey years.
Limitations
Sample sizes are modest for individual product sub-types (e.g., n=16 duck eggs). Country-of-origin was unspecified for 132 of 470 samples (28%). The report does not speciate arsenic; all figures are total arsenic. Comparison across years is complicated by use of more sensitive analytical methods in the 2022 survey versus earlier years.
Implications
- Certification: Dried mushrooms and spices warrant elevated attention under HMT&C. Mushroom Cd (average 0.588 ppm, max 1.71 ppm) substantially exceeds typical food-matrix levels. Spice Pb (average 0.189 ppm, max 1.51 ppm) is relevant for any spice-inclusive product category.
- Courses: Useful regulatory-compliance case study demonstrating Canada’s existing 0.1 ppm arsenic tolerance for beverages and the absence of Canadian regulatory maxima for mushrooms and spices.
- App: Mushroom and spice contamination_profile data; tAs, Cd, Pb all flagged as elevated in dried mushrooms. Note: this report uses total arsenic, not speciated.
- Microbiome: Not applicable.