FRANCE has been told to cut down on national delicacies like croissants and baguettes due to a greater risk of developing cancer.
Food safety agency (ANSES) has recommended French people limit consumption of these much-loved products because of one potentially deadly ingredient.
The fertilisers used during the production process are said to contain high levels of cadmium.
This chemical element was classified as a carcinogen back in 2012.
Frequently used in industrial farming, it has been linked to a heightened risk of cancer.
More specifically, excessive consumption can lead to pancreatic, bladder, prostate and breast cancer, as well as osteoporosis, and cardiovascular and kidney damage.
Géraldine Carne, ANSES’ expertise coordinator, said: “If current exposure levels are maintained and no action is put in place, long-term adverse effects are likely to be more and more on the population.
“Limit the consumption of sweet and salty wheat products, such as breakfast cereals, cakes, biscuits.”
Researchers studied different possible sources of cadmium exposure, including food, water, air, dust, soil, cosmetics and smoking.
They discovered that diet accounted for up to 98 per cent of exposure in the non-smoking population.
Unsurprisingly, tobacco was the other major source of the chemical.
In French cuisine, some of the major cadmium sources are bread, pastries and cake, as well as breakfast cereals, pasta, rice and potatoes.
“The French levels are up to three or four times higher than those of other countries such as Belgium, England and Italy,” Carne told Franceinfo.
It is thought almost half the French population has been exposed to dangerous levels of the carcinogenic metal.
What is Cadmium?
- Cadmium is a naturally occurring heavy metal found in the Earth’s crust, often released into the environment through industrial processes and fertilisers.
- It can be absorbed by crops grown in contaminated soil.
- Staple ingredients like wheat can absorb cadmium, which is then used to make everyday foods such as baguettes and croissants.
- Long-term exposure to high levels of cadmium can be harmful.
- However, for most people, a balanced diet ensures cadmium intake remains well within safe limits.
Labelling the situation “worrying”, ANSES has urged the French government to drastically lower the maximum cadmium level permitted in phosphate fertilisers.
The current permitted level in France is 90mg/kg.
This is a far cry from various other European nations which have a lower limit of 60mg/kg.
To combat the growing risk, the public has been urged to introduce more legumes – such as chickpeas and lentils – into their diets.
It has also been recommended that people consume a wide range of foods sourced from different regions.
This will help avoid repeated exposure to the harmful substance.
