Mukhi et al. 2022 — Heavy metals in food and drug packaging materials, India
This study quantifies arsenic (As), vanadium (V), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) contamination in 13 types of food and drug packaging materials from local markets in Karnataka, India, using ICP-OES with prior qualitative screening. The headline finding is that arsenic exceeded EU permissible limits in all 13 packaging samples. Vanadium exceeded EU permissible limits in 10 of 13 samples. Mercury exceeded EU limits in 2 samples and cadmium in 1. The study demonstrates that food packaging itself can be a significant source of heavy metal contamination risk, independent of agricultural or processing contamination in the food itself, with implications for packaged food safety assessments and for supply chains sourcing packaging from India.
Key numbers
Arsenic: above EU permissible limits in all 13 samples (100 percent). Vanadium: above EU permissible limits in 10 of 13 samples (77 percent). Mercury: above EU limits in 2 of 13 samples. Cadmium: above EU limits in 1 of 13 samples. Qualitative detection (rapid assay): heavy metals detected in 10 of 13 samples across one or more metals. Analysis by ICP-OES (Agilent Technologies) after microwave-assisted acid extraction per USEPA 3051; qualitative rapid assay used spot tests for V (sodium salicylate/phosphoric acid), As (Aquasol kit), Cd (diphenylcarbazone swab), and Hg (SenSafe dithizone strips). Multi-element standard REICPCAL29A used for ICP-OES calibration. Note: version 1 of the paper (this handle) received mixed peer review (1 approved with reservations, 1 not approved); later versions (v2, v3) were also published. Treat specific numeric values with appropriate caution pending final peer review outcome.
Methods (brief)
Thirteen packaging material types; 10 g each; acid digestion with HCl/H2SO4 or HCl/HNO3 depending on matrix; microwave-assisted extraction per USEPA 3051; filtration through 0.45 µm then 0.25 µm; ICP-OES. Triplicates for all assays; averages reported. Comparison against European Council permissible values. Institutional Ethics Committee approval obtained. Limitation: version 1 received one non-approval in peer review; this introduces additional uncertainty beyond the small sample size (n=13 packaging types).
Implications
Certification: Relevant to the supply-chain packaging risk framing for HMT&C and food certification programmes more broadly. Arsenic exceedance across all 13 Indian packaging types suggests that packaging is an underappreciated contamination pathway that certification programmes should address, particularly for products manufactured or packaged in South Asia.
Courses: Useful case study for the supply-chain module illustrating that heavy metal exposure pathways extend beyond agricultural soil and water to include packaging materials.
App: Supports the supply-chain packaging risk layer; packaging origin (India, other South Asian markets) should flag elevated As and V risk in the app model.
Microbiome: Not addressed.