Diet can account for up to 98% of non-smokers' exposure to the metal, while tobacco is an additional primary source. Results published by the French Agency for Food Safety (ANSES) have been described as "worrying", with warnings that the risks could worsen if urgent measures are not taken. Géraldine Carn, coordinator of experts at the agency, confirmed that the long-term health impacts are likely to increase if current exposure levels continue without intervention. Cadmium is linked to many types of cancer, including pancreatic, bladder, prostate, and breast cancer, and has also been associated with osteoporosis, kidney damage, and cardiovascular diseases. It is noted that cadmium accumulates in the body over time, meaning that even small amounts consumed regularly pose a risk over decades. In response to these findings, French health authorities advise against completely giving up bread, but rather to diversify the diet to avoid repeated exposure from the same sources, recommending the consumption of more foods that tend to contain lower levels of the metal, such as lentils and chickpeas. At the same time, the agency called on the French government to tighten regulations on fertilizers, which are a major driver of cadmium pollution in agricultural soils. France currently allows up to 90 mg of cadmium per kilogram of phosphate fertilizers, compared to a maximum of 60 mg in many other European countries. The report also noted that some fertilizers approved for use in organic agriculture may also contain cadmium. Despite the clear warnings, experts stressed that there is no need for panic, as the occasional consumption of bread and pastries does not pose a major risk in itself. It is recalled that cadmium was classified as a carcinogenic substance in France in 2012, but growing concerns about its presence in daily foods have brought renewed attention to its potential long-term health effects. The French Food Safety Authority warned that croissants, French bread, and breakfast cereals could expose millions of consumers to a toxic metal linked to cancer. Experts from the authority reported that nearly half of the French population may consume "worrying" amounts of the heavy metal cadmium through their diet alone, as this metal, found in fertilizers used in modern agriculture, accumulates in the soil and then enters the staple foods consumed by millions daily. The list of foods most contributing to cadmium exposure, according to scientists, includes bread, pastries, pasta, rice, potatoes, as well as wheat products such as cakes, cookies, and breakfast cereals.
