SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 4 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
A research team at the University of La Laguna (ULL) has issued a caution in a study regarding the levels of specific contaminants in dehydrated fruit when the advised daily intake is surpassed.
Several of these products originate from third-party countries, such as dates, and the researchers emphasise the importance of scrutinising the presence of certain contaminants, including toxic metals like aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), among others.
The research, published in the journal ‘Foods’, examines the levels of toxic metals in dried fruits (such as dates, prunes, sultanas, apricot kernels, and dried figs) to assess the potential exposure resulting from their consumption.
The study has been conducted by assistant professor Dr. Soraya Paz Montelongo, part of the Interuniversity Group of Environmental Toxicology and Food and Drug Safety at the institution.
The researcher notes that the samples of dehydrated fruits were sourced from major retailers in Tenerife (including supermarkets and local shops), focusing on the best-selling brands (both private labels and well-known brands).
The analysis for toxic metal content was performed using inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-OES).
Among the significant findings, the aluminium content in prunes was notable, averaging 12.7 milligrams per kilogram. However, when evaluating the risk, and assuming a daily consumption of 30 g of these products (identified as the recommended or typical serving), the intake of lithium (Li) across all dehydrated fruits became evident.
Specifically, in the scenario of dried plums, the intake amounts to 35% of the tolerable daily intake of lithium as determined by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), which is set at two micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (p-RfD, reference dose).
Nevertheless, the researcher from the University of La Laguna asserts that adhering to a daily consumption of 30 grams of any of the examined dried fruits poses no health risk concerning the ingestion of the toxic metals studied.
