Heavy metals (not named) is counted here when a notification names it, in food or migrating from a food contact material. Metals reach food from the environment, from industry and from processing equipment.
20 notifications since 1 January 2020 named heavy metals (not named), under 1% of all EU notifications in that time. 8 in the 365 days to 8 November 2026, against 2 in the 365 days before, up 300%. 10% were border rejections and 65% had a serious risk decision.
The origins named most often were China (5), Germany (3) and Spain (3). The product categories named most often were food contact materials (5), fish and fish products (4) and fruit and vegetables (3). The products named most often were cups and mugs (3), swordfish (2) and basil (1).
Explainer sources, checked 18 October 2026: Metals as contaminants in food, EFSA.
Counts start on 1 January 2020 and run to 8 November 2026, the day the list was last read. A notification that names two countries of origin counts for each. Findings come from our word list matched against the EU subject line, which is never shown; 96% of all notifications match it, the rest count as other finding. Each reference links to the official record on RASFF Window. How this works.
Latest notifications that named heavy metals (not named)
The newest 20 of 20, newest first, each built from fixed word lists. The reference opens the official record.
- Alert notified by Belgium: heavy metals (not named) in a food additive or flavouring from the United Kingdom, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6872, validated 3 August 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Italy: heavy metals (not named) in swordfish from Spain, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6075, validated 8 July 2026.
- Alert notified by Slovakia: cadmium, lead, heavy metals (not named) and 1 more findings in cups and mugs from China, risk decision serious, reference 2026.4607, validated 26 May 2026.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: heavy metals (not named) in food supplements from Germany, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.2665, validated 27 March 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: heavy metals (not named) in basil from Germany, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2025.10317, validated 22 December 2025.
- Alert notified by Slovakia: cadmium, lead, heavy metals (not named) and 1 more findings in cups and mugs from Greece, risk decision serious, reference 2025.10256, validated 19 December 2025.
- Border rejection notified by Croatia: formetanate, nickel and heavy metals (not named) in peppers from Albania, risk decision potential risk, reference 2025.10196, validated 18 December 2025.
- Information for follow up notified by Poland: cadmium, lead, heavy metals (not named) and 2 more findings in cups and mugs from China, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2025.9647, validated 3 December 2025.
- Alert notified by Croatia: lead and heavy metals (not named) in ginger from Germany, risk decision serious, reference 2025.8147, validated 22 October 2025.
- Information for attention notified by Italy: mercury and heavy metals (not named) in swordfish from Italy, risk decision serious, reference 2025.0964, validated 11 February 2025.
- Alert notified by Austria: heavy metals (not named) and migration from a food contact material in pots and pans from China, risk decision serious, reference 2024.6962, validated 18 September 2024.
- Alert notified by Portugal: mercury and heavy metals (not named) in fish from Spain, risk decision serious, reference 2024.6393, validated 23 August 2024.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: pesticide residues and heavy metals (not named) in fruit or vegetables from China, risk decision serious, reference 2024.3912, validated 17 May 2024.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: heavy metals (not named) in salad leaves from Italy, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2024.2689, validated 5 April 2024.
- Information for attention notified by Italy: heavy metals (not named) in tuna from Spain, risk decision serious, reference 2023.6547, validated 27 September 2023.
- Alert notified by Belgium: heavy metals (not named) in herbs or spices from Cameroon, risk decision serious, reference 2023.2417, validated 11 April 2023.
- Information for follow up notified by Germany: heavy metals (not named) in a food contact material from China, risk decision not serious, reference 2023.0067, validated 4 January 2023.
- Border rejection notified by Spain: heavy metals (not named) and unauthorised colours in flavourings from Ukraine, risk decision undecided, reference 2022.3878, validated 4 July 2022.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: heavy metals (not named) in a mixed food product from Peru, risk decision serious, reference 2022.1686, validated 23 March 2022.
- Alert notified by Italy: lead, heavy metals (not named) and tin in a sauce or condiment from Italy, risk decision serious, reference 2020.5324, validated 26 November 2020.
The numbers
| Year | Notifications |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 (to 8 Nov 2026) | 4 |
| Type | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Border rejection | 2 | 10% |
| Alert | 10 | 50% |
| Information for follow up | 3 | 15% |
| Information for attention | 5 | 25% |
| Risk decision | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | 13 | 65% |
| Potentially serious | 3 | 15% |
| Potential risk | 2 | 10% |
| Not serious | 1 | 5% |
| Undecided | 1 | 5% |
| Product | Notifications |
|---|---|
| Cups and mugs | 3 |
| Swordfish | 2 |
| Basil | 1 |
| Flavourings | 1 |
| Food supplements | 1 |
| Ginger | 1 |
| Peppers | 1 |
| Pots and pans | 1 |
| Salad leaves | 1 |
| Tuna | 1 |
| Origin | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | 5 | 25% |
| Germany | 3 | 15% |
| Spain | 3 | 15% |
| Italy | 3 | 15% |
| Albania | 1 | 5% |
| Cameroon | 1 | 5% |
| United Kingdom | 1 | 5% |
| Greece | 1 | 5% |
| Peru | 1 | 5% |
| Ukraine | 1 | 5% |
| Product category | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Food contact materials | 5 | 25% |
| Fish and fish products | 4 | 20% |
| Fruit and vegetables | 3 | 15% |
| Herbs and spices | 3 | 15% |
| Food additives and flavourings | 2 | 10% |
| Food supplements and dietetic foods | 1 | 5% |
| Other and mixed food products | 1 | 5% |
| Soups, sauces and condiments | 1 | 5% |
| Notifying country | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | 4 | 20% |
| Netherlands | 4 | 20% |
| Belgium | 2 | 10% |
| Germany | 2 | 10% |
| Croatia | 2 | 10% |
| Slovakia | 2 | 10% |
| Austria | 1 | 5% |
| Spain | 1 | 5% |
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