Heavy Metal Contamination in Feed samples

Updated January 12, 2021

Heavy Metal Contamination in Feed samples

Contaminated animal feed and feed ingredients can originate from the environment or the production process. This may cause severe health hazards to livestock and humans.

The heavy metals Cadmium (Ca), Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As) and Aluminum (Al) should be monitored carefully according to guidelines for safe levels. Feed mills, Feed companies, and Farms should have program for a frequent sampling of the feed ingredients (mineral supplements and premixes) and complete feeds. When heavy metal levels exceed the permitted levels, this will result in a health risk for animals and for human consumption. Livestock that consume feeds with high levels of heavy metals, will accumulate it in their tissue. Contaminated animals could transfer metal toxins to animal feed chain, to the environment, to food of animal origin (liver, meat and milk) and to people working with these animals and products.

The environmental sources that contribute to heavy metal contamination are burning coal, gas and oil and incinerating waste materials. The higher heavy metal contamination particularly in Asia and other non- European countries.

Feeds that are identified with heavy metal contamination should not be fed to animals to avoid it passing to food products.

Our 1MEH package is designed for testing feed samples and food samples for heavy metal contamination.  And we have the new 2MEH package that includes Mercury (Hg) to the 1MEH package.