The Incidence of Metals in Food

The collated results of 2 to 3 years, work by a representative proDortion of laborato es in the United KiDgdom will be presented. -This present section is concerned primarily with the incidence of mercury. very earliest days of fo-od legislation (1860), public Analysts have examined food for the presence of metallic “ompound, (including arsenic), whether introduced intentionally, by accident or oicurring naturalyl Numei- ous instances could be quoted, over the years, where invesitigations have shown that, apart from deliberate additions, the accidental contamilnation of food can occur by devious routes. Perhaps thg most classical incident to mention was the finding of arsenic in beer in Lancashire in 1900 reading to the formation of a Royal Commission which made recommendations on- the levels which should be accepted in food and drink.