Overview
The authors bought 180 instant coffee samples in retail outlets in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Peru in mid 2022 and measured inorganic arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury and lead, along with acrylamide and ochratoxin A, then ran a probabilistic risk assessment. Inorganic arsenic was the highest metal, lead next; cadmium and mercury were below the LOD in every country.
Key numbers
- Inorganic arsenic, mean by country: 0.0468 (Colombia) to 0.0516 mg/kg (Peru); range 0.035 to 0.060 mg/kg (Table 2).
- Lead, mean by country: 0.0200 (Colombia) to 0.0225 mg/kg (Brazil, Mexico); range 0.017 to 0.027 mg/kg (Table 2).
- Chromium means about 0.006 to 0.008 mg/kg, below the stated chromium LOQ of 0.010 mg/kg (Table 2).
- Cadmium and mercury below the LOD (0.005 mg/kg) in all samples (Section 3.1).
Methods (brief)
Dry ashing at 450 °C and HCl dissolution, then microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy; inorganic arsenic by acid extraction with ion chromatography and atomic emission detection. LODs 0.003 to 0.005 mg/kg; accredited laboratory with blind and duplicate samples, but no CRM or recovery data.
Evidence Fitness
A good-sized retail sample (180) with dates and cities stated, measured on the product as sold. Weaknesses: emission spectroscopy rather than ICP-MS at levels near the LOQ, chromium means below the LOQ, and a doubtful analyte-wavelength list. It measures instant coffee powder, not creamer, so it is only a proxy for non-dairy-creamer and does not link that page.