The respective maximum levels for cadmium for the various product groups are listed in Regulation (EU) No. 488/2014. The regulated commodity groups include various groups of vegetables, mushrooms, cereals, meat, fish, food supplements, food for infants and young children and, as of 2019, also chocolate.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety tests many different foods from various commodity groups every year. In 2013-2015, a total of 3250 samples were analyzed for cadmium, with a 59% share of non-quantifiable samples at 1855 samples. Average cadmium contents of the different commodity groups ranged from 0-250 µg/kg, with the middle range being 19-84 µg/kg. The highest cadmium levels were found in the commodity groups of water molluscs, fish innards, snails, oilseeds, chocolate products and food supplements. The lowest cadmium levels were found in the product groups butter, milk and milk products, fruit and fruit products, fruit and vegetable juices, beer and similar beverages, food for infants and young children, honey, meat, and fruit vegetables.

Annual differences in the mean cadmium contamination of the various product groups are due in particular to different food choices, as certain foods naturally have higher levels than others.

In 2013-2015, a total of 16 maximum level exceedances were detected in Austria. Three of these exceedances were due to cultivated oyster mushrooms, two to seafood, nine to anchovy products and another two to mussels.

Herzog Katja*, Hofstädter Daniela, Marchart Kristina