Monitoring of Selected Metals in Canned Foods

The levels of some essential metals, such as zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe), and the potentially toxic elements lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), in thirteen items of canned foods collected from the local market of Alexandria city, Egypt, were monitored using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Recovery of Zn, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd ranged 88-107, 89-99, 89-98, 90-102, 85.5-101, 87-98 and 91-101%, respectively. Average means and ranges of metal concentrations (mg/kg food) found in canned foods were Zn, 1.52(0.0-5.49); Ca, 12.89 (0.09-29.26); Mg, 26.26 (0.0- 291.18); Cu, 0.41 (0.0-1.77); Fe, 10.57 (0.0-43.96); Pb, 0.33 (0.0-0.1.25) and Cd, 0.03 (0.0-0.19). The concentrations of Zn, Cu, Fe, Ca and Mg do not pose a health risk to consumers. However, the levels of Pb in tomato juice, baked beans, tuna, processed cheese and beef and the level of Cd in tomato juice and processed cheese exceeded, respectively, the levels of 0.2 and 0.05 mg /kg, stipulated by the Commission of the European Communities.