The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, released a white paper exploring solutions to reducing exposure to heavy metals in food. “Food Science and Technology Solutions to Improve Food and Nutrition Security: Challenges, Risks, and Potential Solutions to Mitigate Heavy Metal Exposure” examines the causes and health effects of heavy metals in the US food supply and explores how federal nutrition guidelines can better account for exposure to heavy metals, especially in vulnerable populations. 

The white paper also calls attention to mitigation strategies and highlights research, collaboration, and public health communication needs to better address the issue while also offering insight into how a global, interdisciplinary approach can expedite solutions.

“From farmers measuring soil concentration to consumers cooking at home, reducing dietary exposure to heavy metals is a challenge that will require all facets of the global food system to solve,” said IFT chief science and technology officer Bryan Hitchcock. “This white paper offers potential solutions to this issue that impacts every part of the farm-to-fork journey.”

The white paper is the result of a virtual roundtable discussion organized by IFT’s Food & Nutrition Security Steering Committee (FNSSC) that convened experts in food and nutrition science, food toxicology, public health, and epidemiology to discuss challenges, risks, and potential solutions to mitigate heavy metal exposure with a focus on vulnerable populations.