France to examine bill to reduce cadmium exposure
The move follows ANSES warnings that food is the main source of contamination
Debate follows ANSES warnings over cadmium in soils entering the food chain through agriculture
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The National Assembly is set to examine a bill in early June to reduce exposure to cadmium in France.
The proposal was put forward by two environmental MPs Benoît Biteau and Clémentine Autain, following recent growing pressure from health professionals and environmental organisations.
Clémentine Autain welcomed the decision, posting on X: “Victory! Mobilisation pays off!”, describing the inclusion of the text on the parliamentary agenda as a decisive step after scientific alerts, medical concerns, and citizen mobilisation.
The Green parliamentary group also said it marked “a decisive step” that finally opens the door to debate on a problem long raised by scientists and doctors.
Léa Balage El Mariky, spokesperson for the Ecologist and Social group, also said it was “a victory for environmentalists and civil society”, describing the inclusion of the bill on the parliamentary agenda as a positive step forward.
The National Assembly will mainly examine measures aimed primarily at reducing cadmium contamination in food by acting at its source of agricultural inputs. The bill follows recommendations from French health authority ANSES, which has warned that “nearly half (47.6%) of the adult population exceeds the toxicological reference values”.
ANSES identified cereals, bread, potatoes, vegetables and processed wheat-based products as the main contributors to cadmium exposure.
It also noted that cadmium, naturally present in soils, can be absorbed by plant roots and enter the food chain through crops.
Human activities, including agriculture, further contribute to the presence of trace metals in soil.
The legislative proposal focuses on tightening limits for cadmium in phosphate fertilisers, proposing a reduction of 40 mg/kg by 2027 and 20 mg/kg by 2030. Currently, the government’s roadmap is set to reach 20 mg/kg in 2038.
How to reduce cadmium in everyday life
Dr Pierre Souvet, cardiologist and president of the French Health and Environment Association (ASEF), explained that reducing exposure to cadmium is possible through everyday dietary choices, reports Franceinfo.
His recommendations include varying food consumption and avoiding relying too heavily on wheat-based products such as bread, pasta and pastries, as well as potatoes, which are among the most contaminated foods. Dr Souvet further warned that children are especially exposed due to their diets and long-term accumulation of the metal in the body.
He also advised practical changes such as diversifying snacks, for example replacing processed biscuits with fruit, yoghurt or simpler alternatives. He highlighted that the aim was not to cause alarm, but to “limit exposure as much as possible” while broader agricultural measures are put in place to reduce cadmium in the food chain.
