Food News

New limits for nickel in food

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Maximum levels for the metal nickel in a whole range of foodstuffs were set in EU Regulation 2024/1987 of 31 July 2024.

 

Nickel is a metal that is contained in many alloys. In some people, it can have an allergic effect and cause skin irritation, for example when they come into contact with nickel-containing jewellery. However, nickel is mainly taken up through food.

 

According to various studies, nickel can have a chronic effect (neurotoxicity, genotoxicity) in addition to acute toxic effects.

Based on the evaluation of studies, the EFSA therefore set the TDI (tolerable daily intake) at 13 µg/kg body weight. In the case of young children and infants, there was a risk that this value could be exceeded.

 

The following maximum levels apply in the EU from 1 July 2025 and were added to Section 3 of the Contaminants Regulation (EU) 2023/915.

 

3.6 Nickel Maximum level (mg/kg) Remarks
3.6.1 Tree nuts   The maximum level applies to the edible part. The maximum level does not apply to tree nuts for crushing and oil refining, provided that the remaining pressed tree nuts are not placed on the market as food. In case the remaining pressed tree nuts are placed on the market as food, the maximum level applies, taking into account Article 3(1) and (2).  
3.6.1.1 Tree nuts,
except products listed in 3.6.1.2		 3,5
3.6.1.2 Chestnuts, pine nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and cashew nuts 10
3.6.2   Root and tuber vegetables and bulb vegetables   0,9   The maximum level applies to the wet weight.
The maximum level applies after washing and separating the edible part.
For potatoes, the maximum level applies to peeled potatoes.
3.6.3  Fruiting vegetables  0,4  The maximum level applies to the wet weight.
The maximum level applies after washing and separating the edible part.
3.6.4  Brassica vegetables  0,5  The maximum level applies to the wet weight.
The maximum level applies after washing and separating the edible part.
3.6.5  Leafy vegetables     The maximum level applies to the wet weight.
The maximum level applies after washing and separating the edible part.  
3.6.5.1 Leafy vegetables
except products listed in 3.6.5.2		 0,5
3.6.5.2 Fresh herbs 1,2
3.6.6 Legume vegetables   The maximum level applies to the wet weight.
The maximum level applies after washing and separating the edible part.  
3.6.6.1 Legume vegetables
except products listed in 3.6.6.2		 1
3.6.6.2 Soy beans / edamame (Glycine max) 6
3.6.7 Stem vegetables 0,4 The maximum level applies to the wet weight.
The maximum level applies after washing and separating the edible part.
3.6.8 Seaweed   For dry seaweed the maximum level applies to the product as placed on the market.
For fresh seaweed the maximum level applies after washing and separating the edible part. For fresh seaweed the maximum level applies on a dry matter basis (*1).  
3.6.8.1 Seaweed
except products listed in 3.6.8.2		 30
3.6.8.2 Wakame 40
3.6.9 Pulses    
3.6.9.1 Pulses
except products listed in 3.6.9.2		 4  
3.6.9.2 Dry beans and dry lupins / lupini beans 12  
3.6.10 Oilseeds   The maximum level does not apply to oilseeds for crushing and oil refining, provided that the remaining pressed oilseeds are not placed on the market as food. In case the remaining pressed oilseeds are placed on the market as food, the maximum level applies, taking into account Article 3(1) and (2).   
3.6.10.1 Sunflower seed 8
3.6.10.2 Peanuts 12
3.6.10.3 Soy beans 15
3.6.11 Cereals   The maximum level does not apply to cereals used for the production of beer or distillates, provided that the remaining cereal residue is not placed on the market for the final consumer as food. In case the remaining cereal residue is placed on the market for the final consumer as food, the maximum level applies, taking into account Article 3(1) and (2).  
 
3.6.11.1 Cereals
except products listed in 3.6.11.2, 3.6.11.3, 3.6.11.4 and 3.6.11.5		 0,8
from 1 July 2026
3.6.11.2 Durum wheat (Triticum durum) and rice except products listed in 3.6.11.3 1,5
from 1 July 2026
3.6.11.3 Husked rice 2
from 1 July 2026
3.6.11.4 Pseudo cereals and millet 3
from 1 July 2026
3.6.11.5 Oats 5
from 1 July 2026		 The maximum level applies to oats grains without the inedible husk. To calculate the maximum level for oats grains with the inedible husk a processing factor of 1,5 needs to be applied, resulting in an maximum level of 7,5 mg/kg for oats with the inedible husk.
3.6.12 Cocoa and chocolate products (14)    
3.6.12.1 Milk chocolate with < 30 % total dry cocoa solids 2,5  
3.6.12.2 Milk chocolate with ≥ 30 % total dry cocoa solids and chocolate 7  
3.6.12.3 Cocoa powder and fat reduced cocoa powder placed on the market for the final consumer or as an ingredient in sweetened cocoa powder or powdered chocolate placed on the market for the final consumer (drinking chocolate) 15  
3.6.13 Infant formulae, follow-on formulae, food for special medical purposes intended for infants and young children (3) and young-child formulae (4)   The maximum level applies to the product as placed on the market.   
3.6.13.1 placed on the market as powder except products listed in 3.6.13.2 0,25
3.6.13.2 placed on the market as powder and manufactured from soy protein isolates, alone or in a mixture with cow’s milk proteins 0,4
3.6.13.3 placed on the market as liquid 0,1
3.6.14 Processed cereal-based food for infants and young children (3) 3 The maximum level applies to the product as placed on the market.
3.6.15 Baby food (3) except products listed in 3.6.16. 0,5 The maximum level applies to the product as placed on the market.
3.6.16 Fruit juices (9), fruit nectars (9) and vegetable juices including fruit juices (9), fruit nectars (9) and vegetable juices intended as babyfood (3).    
3.6.16.1 Fruit juices, fruit nectars and vegetable juices except products listed in 3.6.16.2 0,25  
3.6.16.2 Fruit juices and fruit nectars containing juices and nectars from passion fruits, cocoa fruits, and from small fruits and berries and coconut water 1  

 (*1)  Dry matter is determined in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 333/2007 of 28 March 2007 laying down the methods of sampling and analysis for the control of the levels of trace elements and processing contaminants in foodstuffs (OJ L 88, 29.3.2007, p. 29). All other footnotes correspond to those in the EU Contaminants Regulation,

 

YOUR PLUS: We not only determine nickel in food and feed using the latest ICP-MS technology, but also all other potentially toxic metals.

 

Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger, AGROLAB GROUP