What does WHO and ANZFS say about lead in food?

Information collated by Elizabeth O’Brien, The LEAD Group.

World Health Organisation (WHO)

The Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) [of the World Health Organization (WHO)] 73rd meeting Summary & Conclusions re Lead & Cadmium 24/6/10 states: “Based on the dose–response analyses, the Committee estimated that the previously established PTWI [Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake] of 25 μg/kg body weight [25 micrograms of lead per kilogram of body weight] is associated with a decrease of at least 3 intelligence quotient (IQ) points in children and an increase in systolic blood pressure of approximately 3 mmHg (0.4 kPa) in adults. While such effects may be insignificant at the individual level, these changes are important when viewed as a shift in the distribution of IQ or blood pressure within a population. The Committee concluded that the PTWI could no longer be considered health protective, and it was withdrawn. Because the analyses do not indicate a threshold for the key effects of lead, the Committee concluded that it was not possible to establish a new PTWI that would be considered health protective. The Committee stressed that these estimates are based on dietary exposure (mainly food) and that other sources of exposure to lead also need to be considered.” [Ref: http://apps.who.int/food-additives-contaminants-jecfa-database/chemical.aspx?chemID=3511 ]

Australian and New Zealand Food Standards (ANZFS)

The following TABLE has yellow highlights showing recent changes and draws on information from:

Annotated References:

The maximum levels in effect from 1 March 2016 are listed in:

Ref: Australian and New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 19 – Maximum Levels of Metal Contaminants – In Effect as at 1^st March 2016. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2016C00197

Note: As = Arsenic, Cd = Cadmium, Pb = Lead, Hg = Mercury, Sn = Tin

Ref: Attachment A - Approved draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 - As in effect on 1 March 2016. https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/

Note: Many food sources and additives have specific arsenic and heavy metal limits (not listed here) in the above reference, and it contains the following maximum limits:

S3—4 Additional and supplementary requirements

                If there is no relevant specification under section S3—2 or S3—3, or if the monographs referred to in those sections do not contain a specification for identity and purity of a substance relating to arsenic or heavy metals, the specification is that the substance must not contain on a dry weight basis more than:

                    (a)   2 mg/kg of lead; or

                    (b)   1 mg/kg of arsenic; or

                    (c)   1 mg/kg of cadmium; or

                    (d)   1 mg/kg of mercury.

The maximum levels in foods prior to 1 March 2016 are listed in:

Ref: STANDARD 1.4.1- CONTAMINANTS AND NATURAL TOXICANTS. Legislative Instrument Compilation and Supplementary Material AMENDMENT OF THE AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND FOOD STANDARDS CODE (In force from 15/1/15, ceased 1/3/16). https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2015C00052/Download

The maximum level (in mg/kg) for a particular food is listed in relation to that food:

TABLE: Maximum levels of metal contaminants permitted in Australian foods