Arsenic and chromium in foods preserved with sodium lactate
What it found
Arsenic was not found above detection limits in 17 foods preserved with sodium lactate.
Chromium was detected at up to 0.30 parts per million in a small pilot test.
What they found
Arsenic levels in foods
Arsenic was not found above the laboratory detection limits in either the pilot test or the larger study of 17 foods.
Chromium levels in foods
Chromium was found at up to 0.30 parts per million in one pilot sample. Lower amounts were found in the larger study of 17 foods.
Dilution of impurities
The authors suggest the sodium lactate used in these foods was diluted enough to push arsenic below what the lab could detect.
What the authors conclude
- They suggest that the sodium lactate in the tested foods was diluted enough to keep arsenic below detection limits.
- They note that chromium was still found and may be an untracked source of this metal in diets of vulnerable groups.
How it was done
Earlier work found arsenic and chromium in sodium lactate concentrate. The authors wanted to see if these metals showed up in everyday foods preserved with it.
They bought three sodium-lactate-preserved foods from a local market for a pilot test. Then they randomly sampled and tested 17 food products for arsenic and chromium.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work measured metals in food products, not health effects in people or animals.
- Testing only 17 items means scientists do not yet know if other brands or batches have different metal levels.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Radford University, USA
The paper
- Title
- Evaluation of metal impurities in foods preserved with sodium lactate
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Carter KF, Carter GL (2013). Evaluation of metal impurities in foods preserved with sodium lactate. Journal of environmental health.PubMed 23397646
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error