French people, particularly children, are exposed to excessively high levels of chemical pollutants through their daily diet, according to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), which published the first results of its third major total diet study on Thursday.

The study identified health risks for three metals—cadmium, aluminum and mercury—and health concerns for lead and acrylamide, an organic compound formed during cooking methods above 120°C such as frying or roasting.

Where contaminants are found

Cadmium appears in breakfast cereals, aluminum in pastries and sweet biscuits, lead in bread, mercury in fish, and acrylamide in fries and sautéed potatoes. The study, known as EAT3, follows a previous assessment conducted between 2006 and 2011 and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of chronic exposure to chemical contaminants in the French population.

The first results, released on 12th February, targeted more than 250 substances. Further sections covering other pollutant families including pesticide residues, PFAS, bisphenols and phthalates will be released gradually in coming years.

Cereal products main contributors

The study shows average concentrations of acrylamide, silver, aluminum, cadmium and lead in foods have decreased overall. However, increases appear in certain cereal-based products including bread, sweet biscuits, pastries and pasta. These products contribute most to dietary exposure to aluminum, cadmium and lead.

Concentrations of these contaminants also increased in certain vegetables, though ANSES noted this “does not call into question the undeniable nutritional benefit of their consumption.” The same cannot be said for sweet biscuits or pastries, which “in addition to being contaminated by certain trace metals and acrylamide, have low nutritional value.”

Mercury in fish

For methylmercury, the most toxic organic form of mercury found primarily in fish, contamination and exposure levels remain similar to the previous study. “However, fish consumption has undeniable nutritional value,” ANSES stated, recommending consumption of two portions of fish per week, including one oily fish, while varying species and supply sources.

Some improvements noted

Lead exposure through diet decreased compared to the previous survey—by 27% in children and 49% in adults. ANSES described this as “good news,” adding: “We see here the effect of public health policies in force for many years, such as the ban on lead in petrol, in water pipes, in paints, etc.”

Regarding acrylamide, ANSES observed decreased concentrations in foods that were most contaminated and the main contributors to exposure. Coffee, for instance, no longer shows detectable acrylamide. Despite these results, the agency believes consumer exposure “remains too high” and efforts must continue.

Study methodology

For EAT3, ANSES collected food samples from various retail outlets including supermarkets and markets in three departments: Hérault on the Mediterranean coast, Loiret south of Paris, and Puy-de-Dôme in central France. Over 700 samples were gathered between May 2021 and August 2022.

The foods selected—272 in total—represented more than 90% of the average French diet. Samples were prepared to reflect how consumers typically prepare them before being analyzed in laboratories to identify and quantify chemical contaminants. Results were then combined with food consumption data to estimate population exposure and health risks.

Recommendations

ANSES calls on authorities and industry to continue efforts to reduce contaminant levels in food. The agency reiterates its recommendation for a diversified and balanced diet, varying both foods and consumption quantities to minimize nutritional and chemical risks.

The study confirms adequate control of health risks associated with potential chemical contaminant presence in French food for most substances. However, for certain population groups, particularly children, risks of exceeding toxicological thresholds for substances like lead, cadmium and acrylamide remain, indicating continued reduction efforts are necessary.

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Photo credit: Marshalok Brend, Unsplash