The main purpose of the focus action was to collect data on whether and to what extent cereals and cereal products or rice and rice products as well as beer may be contaminated with the heavy metals lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (incl. inorganic arsenic).

Eighty-five samples from all over Austria were examined.

• No sample was rejected

Arsenic is a natural component of the earth's crust and therefore occurs in the soil, water and air. Arsenic also enters the environment via exhaust gases, wastewater and human use. Arsenic can enter plant foods due to arsenic levels in the soil, atmosphere, or water used for irrigation. The focus action collected data for an EFSA scientific opinion on arsenic in food. The aim is to provide a more accurate assessment of the risk to humans from ingestion of arsenic and heavy metals through food. Limit values for arsenic currently exist at the European level only for rice. Europe-wide studies on arsenic in food have therefore been carried out over the past three years.