Test Report Summary

Report Date: 07/10/2024

According to the lab, the results for arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are very low (around the detection limits).  Lead was detectable and the results are provided below.

How were the samples tested: The samples were acid digested and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Results:

Bob's Red Mill Cassava Flour: 0.294 micrograms/ gram (ug/g) (294 parts per billion)

Otto's Cassava Flour: 0.215 ug/g (215 parts per billion)

Jovial Cassava Elbows: 0.110 ug/g (110 parts per billion)

Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips: 0.047 ug/g (47 parts per billion)

What does the FDA say about lead levels in food?

The FDA has set an interim reference level for lead in food of 2.2 micrograms per day for children and 8.8 micrograms per day for females of childbearing age. For more information, please see https://www.fda.gov/food/environmental-contaminants-food/lead-food-and-foodwares

The FDA has also set an action level for lead for certain processed foods intended for babies and children under age two:

"Foods covered by the draft guidance, Action Levels for Lead in Food Intended for Babies and Young Children, are those processed foods, such as food packaged in jars, pouches, tubs and boxes and intended for babies and young children less than two years old. The draft guidance contains the following action levels: 

• 10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures (including grain and meat-based mixtures), yogurts. custards/puddings and single-ingredient meats. 
• 20 ppb for root vegetables (single ingredient).
• 20 ppb for dry cereals."

For more information, please see https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-announces-action-levels-lead-categories-processed-baby-foods

So what does all of this mean?

The FDA action level for foods intended for babies and young children is 10 ppb to 20 ppb dependng on the category food. The results from the testing commissioned by GFWD for cassava flour, pasta, and tortilla chips (not baby foods per se) range from 47 ppb to 294 ppb. Please note that these results in parts per million are 0.047 to 0.294. These levels are far, far lower than the levels of lead that have been found in certain cinnamon products that are part of the ongoing FDA alert. For more information on cinnamon, see https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-alert-concerning-certain-cinnamon-products-due-presence-elevated-levels-lead. 

The FDA interim reference level for lead is 2.2 ug per day for children and 8.8 ug per day for females of childbearing age. A serving size of Siete tortilla chips is 28 grams. At 0.047 ug of lead per gram of food, one serving contains 1.32 ug of lead. A serving size of Jovial elbows is 57 grams. At 0.110 ug lead per gram of food, one serving contains 6.27 micrograms of lead. Do keep in mind though, that according to the FDA, "the IRL for lead includes a 10x safety factor. This means that it is nearly ten times lower than the amount of lead intake from food that would be required to reach the CDC’s blood reference level." "The blood reference level is the level at which the CDC recommends clinical monitoring of lead exposure in children."

Why is there lead in cassava?

Cassava is a root vegetable. According to the FDA, lead is more easily absorbed from the soil by root vegetables. Lead can be naturally present in soil. Higher levels may be found in soil due to various manufacturing practices. For more information, please see https://www.fda.gov/food/environmental-contaminants-food/lead-food-and-foodwares.

Recommendations:

Please don't panic. Assess whether the packaged foods you and/or your children eat contain cassava as a primary ingredient. Think about how often you/they eat these foods and in what amounts. If it imake sense for you, you may decide to either cut back on these foods or find substitutes. 

For example, I (Tricia) reviewed the foods I eat. There is one product with a cassava ingredient. Cassava-based flours are part of the flour mix along with almond flour and chickpea flour. There are times when I've been known to eat this product every day (it is a cookie and I have a sweet tooth). I will be cutting back but not removing this product from my diet. Why? My diet is very limited for a variety of reasons. This particular product does not cause GI distress. 

Test results may be used for personal use only. Results may not be reposted, reprinted, republished, or paraphrased without the express written permission of Gluten Free Watchdog, LLC. Test results may not be used for business purposes.

These test results will be provided to the FDA.

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