Heavy metals originate from natural and anthropogenic sources and occur in food and water matrices at trace and ultra‑trace levels. Uptake via soil, water and air leads to accumulation along the food chain, requiring analytical control at legally defined limits.
Toxicological relevance depends on both element and chemical form. Inorganic arsenic is carcinogenic, whereas organic arsenic species in fish are considered non‑toxic. Methylmercury biomagnifies in aquatic food chains, while cadmium accumulates in human tissue over long time periods. This requires element‑specific analysis and, where mandated, speciation to distinguish toxic from non‑toxic forms.
Regulatory verification of heavy metal concentrations against legally binding EU maximum levels.
Typical applications: Official food control, market surveillance, compliance verification
Total arsenic is insufficient for regulatory assessment. Compliance is based on inorganic arsenic determined by ICP‑MS to distinguish toxic forms from non‑toxic species.
Typical applications: Rice & rice products, baby food, import control
Evaluation of mercury exposure in aquatic food chains. Separate regulatory limits apply for total mercury and methylmercury in predatory fish and seafood.
Typical applications: Tuna, swordfish, shark, seafood, canned products
Cadmium levels depend on origin and cocoa solid content. Interpretation follows category‑specific EU maximum levels for chocolate and cocoa‑derived products.
Typical applications: Chocolate, cocoa powder, raw material sourcing decisions
Assessment of heavy metal parameters according to national transpositions. Accredited sampling available.
Typical applications: Drinking water compliance , process water monitoring, infrastructure control
Risk‑based screening of raw materials prior to processing to prevent downstream non‑compliance.
Typical applications: Spices, cocoa, rice, fish, algae, supplier verification (HACCP, IFS, BRC)
Regulated under Regulation (EU) 2023/915 defining legally binding maximum levels for toxic elements in food and water. Matrix‑ and element‑specific limits determine result interpretation.
UK market: EU‑derived requirements apply under UK retained EU law (Great Britain). Matrix‑ and element‑specific limits are assessed against the applicable UK legislation.
Macro minerals required for nutritional labelling and product formulation. Combine heavy metal contaminant testing with mineral determination for regulatory assessment and label verification.
Essential micronutrients analysed at trace level for nutrition labelling, supplements and feed applications. Analytical focus differs from contaminant risk assessment despite shared ICP‑MS platforms.
