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Survey of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in muscle and kidneys from cattle and sheep

Project Code: C02088

25/04/2012

University of Aberdeen
Meharg, A

This survey measured the concentrations of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in muscle and kidneys from cattle and sheep. The samples were collected from a number of slaughterhouses throughout England and Wales. Estimates of dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic and total arsenic from kidneys and meat from cattle and sheep were calculated from the survey results.

Key findings

A total of 207 samples of muscle and kidney from cattle and sheep were tested for total arsenic and inorganic arsenic.
The level of total arsenic was measured in 71 out of the 103 (69%) samples of kidney and 9 out of the 104 (9%) samples of muscle.
The more harmful inorganic arsenic was measured at low concentrations in just two samples of kidney and in none of the samples of muscle.

Conclusion

The FSA used the survey results to carry out estimates of dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic and total arsenic from kidneys and meat from cattle and sheep. These indicated that these sources provide a minor contribution to overall exposure to total arsenic and inorganic arsenic from the whole diet.

The data do not raise food safety concerns and there is no need for consumers to change their eating habits.

Final report

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