Chemicals · Metals
Cadmium in food
A metal that plants take up from soil; it builds up in the kidneys over years. FDA background
What's a lot?
EPA's daily reference dose (food): 1 µg per kg of body weight. That is about 15 µg a day for a 33-lb toddler and 70 µg for a 154-lb adult. EPA's estimate of a daily amount unlikely to cause harm over a lifetime, with safety margins built in. Source
Spinach, raw (typically 222 ppb): a toddler reaches the EPA reference dose (food) with about 68 g (2.4 oz) a day; an adult with about 320 g (11 oz).
ppb means micrograms per kilogram of food: 100 ppb is 100 µg in 2.2 lb of food. A daily limit is about long-run averages; one high day is not the same as eating it every day.
Foods highest in cadmium
From FDA's Total Diet Study: everyday foods bought around the US and tested as eaten. FDA found cadmium in 214 of the 307 foods it tested.
How much of a toddler's daily limit one serving holds (a cup of a drink, 100 g of a food, a teaspoon of a spice), at FDA's average level
The numbers as a table
| Food | Average | A toddler reaches the limit at |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa powder 2020, found in 1 of 1 | 400 ppb | about 38 g (1.3 oz) a day adult: about 180 g (6.3 oz) |
| Seeds, sunflower, shelled, salted, roasted 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Popcorn, Peanuts, Seeds & Related Snacks · Other Grains & Seeds · Nuts/Seeds - Prepared/Processed | 333 ppb | about 45 g (1.6 oz) a day adult: about 210 g (7.4 oz) |
| Spinach, raw 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 Salads | 222 ppb | about 68 g (2.4 oz) a day adult: about 320 g (11 oz) |
| Chips, potato 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Chips, Pretzels & Snacks · Other Snacks · Snacks | 130 ppb | about 120 g (4.2 oz) a day adult: about 540 g (19 oz) |
| Lettuce, leaf, raw 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 Pre-Packaged Fruit & Vegetables · Salads | 61.1 ppb | about 250 g (8.8 oz) a day adult: about 1.1 kg (2.4 lb) |
| Potatoes, French fries, fast-food 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 French Fries, Potatoes & Onion Rings · Frozen Prepared Sides · Restaurant and fast food | 57.9 ppb | about 260 g (9.2 oz) a day adult: about 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) |
| Peanut butter, creamy 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Nut & Seed Butters · Spreads | 52.3 ppb | about 290 g (10 oz) a day adult: about 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) |
| Cookies, chocolate chip 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Cookies & Biscuits · Biscuits/Cookies · Biscuits/Cookies (Shelf Stable) | 48.3 ppb | about 310 g (11 oz) a day adult: about 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) |
| Crackers, graham 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Crackers & Biscotti · Biscuits Cracker · Biscuits Plain/Sweet | 43.3 ppb | about 350 g (12 oz) a day adult: about 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) |
| Potato, with peel, baked 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 French Fries, Potatoes & Onion Rings · Frozen Prepared Sides · Frozen Potato | 43 ppb | about 350 g (12 oz) a day adult: about 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) |
| Flour, white, all-purpose 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Crusts & Dough · Flours & Corn Meal · Baking/Cooking Mixes/Supplies | 42.3 ppb | about 350 g (12 oz) a day adult: about 1.7 kg (3.7 lb) |
| Peanuts, dry roasted, salted 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Popcorn, Peanuts, Seeds & Related Snacks · Nuts/Seeds - Prepared/Processed · Fruit/Nuts/Seeds Combination | 40.7 ppb | about 370 g (13 oz) a day adult: about 1.7 kg (3.7 lb) |
"Average" counts samples below the lab's limit as zero. A food high on this list matters only if you eat a lot of it, which is what the last column shows.
Foods with lab results
964 named foods have published results; the 10 highest are below. Each links to the full record.
| Product | Median | Found in | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arborio Rice Signature Select |
138 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Basmati Rice Kroger |
108 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Charleston Gold Rice Andy's |
105 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Smash Bar Made with Banana, Plant-Based Protein, and Sunflower Butter Sprout Organics |
70 ppb | 8 of 8 | Maker's own test Maker's own tests (California AB 899), via detectlead.com |
| Organic Spelt Berries Food to Live |
67.3 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Organic Quinoa TruRoots |
59.9 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Riso Italiano per Risotto Arborio Riso Scotti |
53.8 ppb | 2 of 2 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Whole Wheat Whole Grain Cereal - Sitter 2nd Foods Gerber |
50.8 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2019), via detectlead.com |
| Saffron Yellow Rice - Arroz Amarillo Vigo |
50.5 ppb | 3 of 3 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Spelt Berries Whole Grain Jovvily |
50.5 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
Supplements, medicines and remedies (11)
Mostly imported remedies tested by health departments during lead-poisoning investigations.
- KPIC Uri Tract Care (606 Xiao Yan Capsule) (brand not recorded)median 1,100 ppb, highest 1,100 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Uri Tract Care (606 Xiao Yan Capsule) (brand not recorded)median 1,000 ppb, highest 1,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Yuen Kut Lam's Kam Wo Char (brand not recorded)median 720 ppb, highest 720 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- KPIC Uri Tract Care (606 Xiao Yan Capsule)median 550 ppb, highest 550 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Magnesium Malate (brand not recorded)median 490 ppb, highest 490 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Strong Bi Yan Wanmedian 360 ppb, highest 360 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Ultra Man 50 Plus (brand not recorded)median 340 ppb, highest 340 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Ultra Maximum-Strength - Plant Sterols (brand not recorded)median 280 ppb, highest 280 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Olde World Icelandic Cod Liver Oil (brand not recorded)median 260 ppb, highest 260 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Wei De Anmedian 250 ppb, highest 250 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
Recent FDA recalls naming cadmium
10 recalls in FDA's records name cadmium as the reason; the 5 most recent are below.
- 2025-08-13 · W.W. Industrial Group, Inc.Parashore Pear Slices in Juice, 15 oz. (425 g), UPC#704817164237Contaminated with elevated lead and cadmium FDA record
- 2025-06-11 · Publix Super Markets, Inc.Greenwise Pear Kiwi Spinach & Pea Baby Food Pouch. Net Wt 4 oz. (113g). Stage 2 6 months+, Best if" date of 11/01/2025. Packed in 14 pouches per case, 4 oz per pouch. Distributed by Publix Super Markets, Inc. 3300 Publix Corporate Parkway Lakeland, FL 33881.Elevated levels of Lead, cadmium and arsenic FDA record
- 2024-08-07 · Urban Outfitters Inc.Elin Dessert Plates. The recalled plates are lilac in color with orange mushroom, moth, and fern motifs. The plates measure 21 cm (8.25 inches) in diameter and have scalloped edges. Plates sold individually in store.Elevated levels of cadmium in plates FDA record
- 2021-12-08 · Murray International Trading Co., Inc."Herbal Doctor" brand Angelicae Sinensis, Natural Herb, Net Wt. 16 oz (454 g) packaged in a green plastic bag; and 12oz (340g) packaged in a clear plastic boxProduct contains elevated levels of lead and cadmium FDA record
- 2015-10-14 · NewStar Fresh Foods, LLCorganic girl - good clean greens baby spinach - tender nutrition baby leaves. Washed 3 times. USDA Organic. 5 oz.. plastic clamshell. Distributed by organic girl, Salinas, CA 93901Detection of elevated level of Cadmium in the product. FDA record