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General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (Codex Stan 193-1995)

Cadmium

Reference to JECFA 41 ( 1993 ) , 61 ( 2004 ) , 16 ( 1972 ) , 33 ( 1989 ) , 55 ( 2001 ) , 64 ( 2006 ) , 73 ( 2011 )
Toxicological guidance valueIn view of the long half-life of cadmium, daily ingestion in food has a small or even a negligible effect on overall exposure. In order to assess long or short-term risks to health due to cadmium exposure, dietary intake should be assessed over months, and tolerable intake should be assessed over a period of at least 1 month. To encourage this view, at the 73rd meeting (2010) the JECFA decided to express the tolerable intake as a monthly value in the form of a provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) and established a PTMI of 25 ug/kg bw.
Contaminant definitionCadmium, total
SynonymsCd
Related code of practiceCode of Practice Concerning Source Directed Measures to Reduce Contamination of Foods with Chemicals (CAC/RCP 49-2001)

Commodity/Product Name Maximum Level (ML) mg/kg Portion of the Commodity/Product to which the ML/GL applies Notes/Remarks
Brassica vegetables
0.05
Head cabbages and kohlrabi: whole commodity as marketed, after removal of obviously decomposed or withered leaves. Cauliflower and broccoli: flower heads (immature inflorescence only). Brussels sprouts: buttons only.The ML does not apply to Brassica leafy vegetables
Bulb vegetables
0.05
Bulb/dry onions and garlic: whole commodity after removal of roots and adhering soil and whatever parchment skin is easily detached.
Cephalopods
2
Whole commodity after removal of shellThe ML applies to cuttlefishes, octopuses and squids without viscera
Cereal grains
0.1
Whole commodityThe ML does not apply to buckwheat, canihua, quinoa, wheat and rice.
Chocolate containing or declaring more than 50% to less than 70% total cocoa solids on a dry matter basis
0.8
Whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distributionIncluding sweet chocolate, Gianduja chocolate, semi-bitter table chocolate, Vermicelli chocolate / chocolate flakes, and bitter table chocolate.
Chocolate containing or declaring more than 70% total cocoa solids on a dry matter basis
0.9
Whole commodity as prepared for wholesale or retail distributionIncluding sweet chocolate, Gianduja chocolate, semi- bitter table chocolate, Vermicelli chocolate / chocolate flakes, and bitter table chocolate.
Fruiting vegetables
0.05
Whole commodity after removal of stems. Sweet corn and fresh corn: kernels plus cob without husk.The ML does not apply to tomatoes and edible fungi.
Leafy vegetables
0.2
Whole commodity as usually marketed, after removal of obviously decomposed or withered leaves.The ML also applies to Brassica leafy vegetables.
Legume vegetables
0.1
Whole commodity as consumed. The succulent forms may be consumed as whole pods or as the shelled product.
Marine bivalve molluscs
2
Whole commodity after removal of shellThe ML applies to clams, cockles and mussels but not to oysters and scallops.
Natural mineral waters
0.003
Relevant Codex commodity standard is CODEX STAN 108-1981. The ML is expressed in mg/l.
Pulses
0.1
Whole commodityThe ML does not apply to soya bean (dry).
Rice, polished
0.4
Whole commodity
Root and tuber vegetables
0.1
Whole commodity after removing tops. Remove adhering soil (e.g. by rinsing in running water or by gentle brushing of the dry commodity). Potato: peeled potato.The ML does not apply to celeriac.
Salt, food grade
0.5
Relevant Codex commodity standard is CODEX STAN 150-1985.
Stalk and stem vegetables
0.1
Whole commodity as marketed after removal of obviously decomposed or withered leaves. Rhubarb: leaf stems only. Globe artichoke: flower head only. Celery and asparagus: remove adhering soil.
Wheat
0.2
Whole commodityThe ML applies to common wheat, durum wheat, spelt and emmer.