An American study has alerted to the presence of toxic metals such as nickel or arsenic in vegetable milks and fruit juices.
- There are different kinds of heavy metals such as arsenic, nickel or selenium.
- Arsenic, lead and cadmium are important carcinogens.
- The presence of toxic metals has been observed in samples of fruit juices or vegetable milks, according to a new American study.
At breakfast or as a snack, it is not uncommon for parents to offer a fruit juice or vegetable milk to their children. However, some of these drinks could contain heavy metals, according to the conclusions of an American study, published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis.
The presence of nickel, arsenic or selenium in vegetable milks and fruit juices
To achieve these results, researchers at Tulane University (United States) evaluated the levels of 25 toxic metals in 60 samples of non-alcoholic beverages such as fruit juices, vegetable milks, sodas and teas.
According to the results, five of the 60 beverages assessed contained high levels of heavy metals above US federal drinking water standards. Scientists have notably noted the presence of nickel, manganese, boron, of cadmium, strontium, arsenic and selenium in mixed fruit juices and plant milks such as oat and almond milk.
In particular, two mixed fruit juices had arsenic levels above the standard of 10 micrograms/litre, while a cranberry juice, a mixed carrot and fruit juice and an oat milk had cadmium levels above the American standard.
Toxic metals: a call for vigilance concerning fruit juices and vegetable milks
According to those responsible for the study, adults consume little fruit juice or vegetable milk compared to children. For Tewodros Godebo, lead author of this research and assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Tulane University, parents should therefore be careful about the amount of fruit drinks or plant milks they offer their children. “Infants and young children should not be given mixed fruit juices or plant milks in large quantities (…) Arsenic, lead and cadmium are known carcinogens and it is well established that they cause internal organ damage and cognitive impairment in children, especially during early brain development”he recalled.
The scientists, however, were reassuring in the face of the publication of their results. “I don’t think there’s anything to be afraid of (…) When it comes to toxicity, it’s the dosage that often makes the difference, so it’s all in moderation. But it does make you aware of the need to carry out more in-depth studiesexplained Hannah Stoner, a student at Tulane University, who participated in the study.
