France: a toxic metal in food, fertilizers from Morocco pointed out

A true invisible poison, cadmium is classified as a carcinogenic and mutagenic substance capable of causing serious kidney or bone damage. ANSES is concerned about massive contamination: nearly half of French adults and one in five children now exceed the critical threshold. The main entry point for this heavy metal remains food. Worrying traces are found in cereals, bread, pasta, potatoes and even chocolate.

On Bladi.net: Pancreatic cancer: a doctor blames the cadmium present in some Moroccan fertilizers

This pollution of plates finds its origin in the strong dependence of agriculture (including organic) on mineral phosphate fertilizers, the majority of which are imported from Morocco. ANSES deplores that the regulatory thresholds remain much too lax. Currently, the limit applied in France is 90 milligrams of cadmium per kilogram (60 mg/kg at the European level), a figure far from the 20 mg/kg recommended by the health agency since 2019.

To depollute agricultural soils, experts are calling for a rapid change in practices. The agency notably recommends imposing the labeling of the cadmium content on fertilizer packaging. It especially encourages farmers to source naturally less heavy metal-laden phosphate rocks, or to use industrial decadmiation techniques when this is impossible.

On Bladi.net: Zone Interdite: Moroccan phosphate accused of containing too much cadmium

Pending these reforms, consumers can limit their exposure by adapting their diet. Scientists advise reducing the share of highly contaminated industrially produced salty and sweet biscuits, and more often replacing pasta and rice with much less polluted legumes. Finally, for smokers, cigarettes remain a major source of cadmium inhalation, making quitting tobacco all the more urgent.