Cadmium in Peanuts 

What is cadmium?

Cadmium is a naturally occurring mineral which can cause kidney damage if large amounts are eaten. It is found in a wide range of foods including green leafy vegetables, root vegetables, meat, kidneys, seafood and peanuts. The Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) regulates the maximum permitted concentration of cadmium in food using international studies and dietary modelling for Australia and New Zealand. This maximum level ensures that people would not ingest a dangerous level, even if they were a big eater of all these foods over a lifetime.

What is the new decision?

The Australian New Zealand Food Standards Council (ANZFSC) met in Canberra on Tuesday 5 August 1999 to discuss this issue. ANZFSC consists of the New Zealand and State and Territory Health Ministers. It is chaired by Senator, the Hon Grant Tambling, Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care.

At their previous meeting on December 17 1998, Ministers agreed in principle, in a majority decision, to adopt a new level for cadmium in peanuts of 0.1mg/kg subject to advice on health issues by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Previously the maximum permitted level of cadmium in peanuts was set at 0.05mg/kg which is half the level of 0.1mg/kg considered safe by ANZFA.

The NHMRC reported that the cadmium intake from peanuts is so small as not to raise any public health concerns.

ANZFA also found that cadmium from peanuts represents less than 4% of the total dietary cadmium exposure. Dietary studies showed that, even for those members of the population with exceptionally high consumption of cadmium containing foods, total cadmium intakes were very much below the recommended safety levels. The new level of 0.1mg/kg is also well below the internationally proposed standard for cadmium in peanuts of 0.2mg/kg.

As a result the Ministers agreed to implement their decision at their meeting of 17 December 1998.