Dangerous avocados were brought to Ukraine: what is the threat of high cadmium?
8 April 11:14
Avocados containing dangerous cadmium have been found on the shelves of Ukrainian stores. The fruit came from the Netherlands and was produced by a company in Peru. This information was made public by the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to published data, the first report of the problem came from the Netherlands on April 2. The Risks category states that consumption of this avocado poses a serious health risk.
There is no information about a specific producer, exporter, or importer in the EU, including the one who supplied the products to Ukraine.
The report cites laboratory tests that show that the cadmium content in the product exceeds the standard by two times. In these avocados, it is 0.10 mg/kg, while the norm is 0.05 mg/kg.
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Cadmium and its health hazards
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that is part of natural minerals and is widely used in industry. It can accumulate in soil, water, and plants through emissions from metallurgical plants, waste incineration, and the use of phosphate fertilizers.
Health hazards in excess of normal levels
Cadmium has no beneficial role in the human body, and its accumulation leads to serious poisoning and chronic diseases. According to EU and WHO standards, the permissible daily dose of cadmium is approximately 0.025 mg per kilogram of body weight, and the content in food should not exceed the established limit levels.
If the rate of cadmium in foods is doubled, the health risks increase significantly:
- Kidney failure. Cadmium accumulates in the kidneys, causing impaired kidney function, the development of kidney failure, and increased protein levels in the urine.
- Bone problems. It interferes with calcium absorption, which leads to osteoporosis, brittle bones, and joint pain.
- Oncological diseases. Cadmium is recognized as a class I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which means it can cause lung, prostate, and kidney cancer.
- Toxic effects on the liver and heart. Excessive consumption of cadmium leads to liver damage, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.
- Nervous disorders. Exposure to cadmium can cause fatigue, headaches, irritability, and memory loss.
What other foods are most contaminated with cadmium?
- Cereals and vegetables. Especially spinach, potatoes, mushrooms, cabbage, and carrots.
- Fish and seafood. Some types of fish (e.g., tuna, herring) and shellfish can contain high concentrations of cadmium.
- Meat and offal. The liver and kidneys of animals are sources of accumulated cadmium.
- Cocoa and chocolate. Due to the specifics of growing cocoa beans in contaminated areas.
How to reduce the risk of cadmium poisoning?
- Avoid consuming foods with high levels of cadmium (especially liver, animal kidneys, and seafood).
- Consume more calcium, iron, and zinc – they reduce the absorption of cadmium in the body.
- Wash vegetables and fruits, peel root vegetables before eating.
- Use filtered water for cooking.
Exceeding two times the cadmium content in foods can cause chronic poisoning and lead to the development of serious diseases. Unfortunately, it is not yet known which shelves have received the dangerous fruit from Peru. The State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection is also silent. So, it’s probably best to avoid avocados for now.
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