The aim of this survey was to sample plant-based protein products including commodities made from pea, wheat and/or soya-based plant-based protein ingredients.
A range of products were purchased in two broad groupings – products with limited additional ingredients except the protein sources e.g. protein powders, and products with more complex ingredients e.g. wheat or soya-based no-meat products such as sausages. Products were purchased from a range of retail and online sellers from Scotland and tested for levels of a range of mycotoxins, plant alkaloids, acrylamide, and erucic acid.
All of the samples analysed were compliant with GB MLs where applicable. Two samples in Phase 1 contained aflatoxins and OTA at concentrations at or above MLs for foods that might be considered comparable such as wheat gluten, nuts and cereals.
This study will be used to fill data gaps on levels of chemical contaminants in plant-based protein products and will be used to inform future sampling to target contaminants in particular commodities in future surveys.