Metals are naturally-occurring elements that may be present in very low amounts in rock, water, soil, or air. Finding these substances in food products is not unexpected as trace levels generally reflect normal accumulation from the environment. They may be present in finished foods due to their presence in the ingredients used to manufacture those foods, and/or may be unintentionally incorporated along the food production chain. Metals of highest concern to human health include arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury and these have been shown to have effects on human health following long term exposure.
The main objectives of this targeted survey were to generate additional baseline surveillance data on the level of metals in foods not routinely monitored under other CFIA programs, and to compare, the detection rate of metals in foods in this survey with that of previous targeted surveys.