According to a 2025 report by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), France is among the European countries most exposed to cadmium through food. The study, published in March 2025, identified bread, rice, and potatoes as the primary contributors to dietary cadmium intake for the general population.
Cadmium is a heavy metal that accumulates in the body over time, primarily affecting the kidneys and bones. Chronic exposure has been linked to an increased risk of kidney failure and osteoporosis. ANSES estimates that the average dietary exposure for French adults is close to or exceeds the tolerable weekly intake level set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The contamination originates from phosphate fertilizers used in agriculture, which contain cadmium naturally present in phosphate rock. Crops like wheat (used for bread), rice, and potatoes absorb cadmium from the soil. The report emphasizes that reducing cadmium levels in fertilizers is crucial to lowering dietary exposure.
ANSES recommends diversifying food sources and avoiding consumption of foods grown on highly contaminated soils. The agency also calls for stricter regulations on cadmium content in fertilizers, a measure already under discussion at the European Union level.
