A peer-reviewed article titled “Collaborating to Address Heavy Metals in Fresh Produce Supply – A Case Study on Cadmium in Spinach and Carrots Grown in Arizona and California”, summarizes the proceedings from a pilot workshop convened by the USDA in 2023 to facilitate collaboration between industry, government and academia to benefit food safety and public health.

The Cadmium Food Safety Pilot Workshop, which included about 40 participants, consisted of field tours, a discussion on the health impacts of cadmium, the importance of spinach and carrots to the diet, current production practices in California and Arizona, and a review of research on factors that influence crop uptake of cadmium. The group engaged in open dialogue, acknowledging the need to achieve a common understanding of the challenges as well as strengthening trust between various stakeholders to find solutions together.

The pilot focused on the production of two commodities (spinach and carrots) in two states (California and Arizona) and was aimed at developing a continuous improvement plan for mitigating cadmium, an element of concern.

The peer-reviewed article summarizing the workshop proceedings can be found here.