A few days ago, the French National Assembly passed a bill against the government’s recommendation—a rare occurrence worth noting. The scandal had been escalating daily since the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) released a report revealing that the French population—and children in particular—were suffering from significant cadmium contamination through their diet.
What is cadmium?
Cadmium is a heavy metal naturally present in the soil, but its concentration has risen due to agricultural activities, particularly the use of phosphate fertilizers. The metal accumulates in the soil, is absorbed by plants, and ends up in the food supply. It has been classified as a human carcinogen since 1993.
Why are the French among the most affected?
French agriculture is the largest consumer of phosphate fertilizers in Europe; these have long been used to enrich the soil. However, a large proportion of these fertilizers is imported from Morocco, where deposits are very rich in cadmium. The result is disastrous: cadmium exposure levels among the French population doubled between 2006 and 2016, and they are three times more contaminated than the rest of Europeans and Americans!
It is worth noting that the cadmium levels tolerated by the French government are higher than those permitted by the European Union. France allows 90 mg per kg, whereas the EU recommends 60 mg, and countries like Finland and Hungary already enforce limits of 20 mg. Seeking to maintain good relations with Morocco, France has requested exemptions to allow for high levels of cadmium. Yet, ways to reduce cadmium levels in fertilizers do exist; however, implementing them would come at a cost, which is why it hasn’t been done.
Long-standing warnings, government inaction
France has the second-highest incidence of pancreatic cancer and one of the highest breast cancer rates in the world. These alarming figures are partly attributable to cadmium. Scientists and doctors have been sounding the alarm about this issue for some fifteen years: cases of pancreatic cancer in children have risen by 40% over the past 30 years, as children are less able to eliminate toxic substances. Given that the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just 5%, the gravity of the problem is immediately apparent. Furthermore, nearly half (47%) of the population exceeds safety thresholds.
An overwhelming vote
Faced with a growing scandal and government foot-dragging—officials sought to allow excessive timeframes for reducing cadmium levels—lawmakers voted overwhelmingly (144 to 22) to cut the content to 40 mg by 2027 and to 20 mg by 2030. The National Rally (RN), a right-wing party, voted against the measure, claiming to defend farmers’ interests at the expense of the health of current and future generations.
