Written question WQ85656
- Asked by
- Russell GeorgeConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 11 days
Question
What records are kept for the assessment of measuring heavy metals in food, such as lead?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Retained EU law (EU) 1881/2006 sets maximum levels for heavy metals such as lead and other contaminants in food. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for making sure such chemical contaminants are not present in food above these levels.
The FSA carry out research and surveillance and use this information to enforce controls to prevent chemical contaminants entering the food chain above those maximum levels.
The UK National Monitoring programme includes specific testing of heavy metals in products of animal origin such as shellfish. The FSA in collaboration with the Public Analyst Official Laboratories have also has also commissioned a surveillance food sampling programme which will include chemical contaminant sampling.