• Report

Chemical Contaminants in Plant Based Protein Survey

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  • Food Standards Scotland

Chemical Contaminants in Plant Based Protein Survey

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Content guide

Annex A: Summarised sample results and relevant Maximum Levels (MLs)

Table A1. Comparison of UK/EU Maximum Level (ML) Ranges and Survey Results at or above LOQs (Phase 1)

MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
OTA0.5Infant food80Liquorice extract

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S24-069134Pea powderOTA9.33
S24-069135Soy powderOTA3.22
S24-069137Soy powderOTA4.15
S24-069322Soy based minceOTA0.39
S24-069890Soy based minceOTA1.85
S24-069886Pea based ‘meatballs’OTA0.53
S24-069888Pea based vegan burgersOTA0.26
S24-069889Pea based vegan sausagesOTA0.54
S24-069326Pea, wheat & soy ‘chicken’ piecesOTA0.32
S24-069891Pea & wheat based vegan sausageOTA0.11
MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
Aflatoxin B10.1Infant food12.0Almonds, pistachios & apricot kernels to be sorted
Total aflatoxins4.0Dried fruit, nuts, cereals ready to eat15.0Nuts to be sorted

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S24-069136Pea powderAFB10.15
S24-069137Soy powder

AFB1

AFB2

AFG1

AFG2

Total AF

2.24

0.12

2.46

0.12

4.94

S24-069322Soy based minceAFB10.22
MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
ZON20Infant food400Refined maize oil

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S24-069137Soy powderZON1.13
S24-069885Pea based sausageZON1.75
S24-069328Soy & wheat vegan ‘chicken’ breastZON1.1
MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
DON200 (GB) 
150 (EU incl NI)		Infant food1750Unprocessed durum wheat, oats maize (GB) Unprocessed oats (EU incl NI)

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S24-069325Soy & wheat vegetarian ‘shredded duck’DON7.35
S24-069326Pea, wheat & soy ‘chicken’ piecesDON3.76
S24-069328Soy & wheat vegan ‘chicken’ breastDON3.07
S24-069891Pea & wheat based vegan sausageDON2.85
MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
Sum FB1 and FB2200Infant food4000Unprocessed maize 

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S24-069321Soy based VegeminceFB1 & FB228.44
MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
Sum ergot alkaloids20 (EU inc. NI)Infant food500 (EU inc. NI)Rye milling products 

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S24-069326Pea, wheat & soy ‘chicken’ piecesSum ergots5.71
S24-069891Pea & wheat based vegan sausageSum ergots6.90
Tropane AlkaloidsLowest GB/EU ML (µg/kg)CommodityHighest GB/EU ML (µg/kg)Commodity

Atropine

Scopolamine

1.0

1.0

Baby food

1.0

1.0

Baby food
Sum of Atropine and Scopolamine

0.2 (EU inc. NI)

5 µg/kg (EU inc. NI)

Liquid herbal infusions

Cereals

50 (EU inc. NI)Dry herbal infusions

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product Type

Tropane alkaloids

 

Result at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S24-069322Soy based minceSum0.54
S24-069323Soy based vegan ‘chicken’ piecesAt0.2
S24-069883Organic tofu (soy)Sum1.71
S24-069325Soy & wheat vegetarian ‘shredded duck’At0.19


 

 

Table A2. Comparison of UK/EU Maximum Level (ML) Ranges and Survey Results at or above LOQs (Phase 2)

MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
OTA0.5Infant food80Liquorice extract

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S25-037297Soy protein powderOTA0.44
S25-037298Pea protein powderOTA2.11
S25-037299Pea & fava bean protein powderOTA0.92
S25-037300Pea & soy protein powderOTA0.41
S25-037301Vegan plant blend protein powderOTA0.46
S25-037454Whey & soy protein powderOTA1.70
S25-037455Pea protein powder shakeOTA2.27
S25-037459Pea & rice protein powderOTA0.37
S25-037317Soy & pea based baconOTA0.32
S25-037318Pea based plant burgerOTA0.22
S25-037319Wheat and pea based steakOTA0.13
S25-037341Pea based vegan burgerOTA0.23
S25-037303Soy protein & oat barsOTA0.55
S25-037304Soy protein & oat barsOTA0.39
S25-037453Protein blend barsOTA0.39
MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
Aflatoxin B10.1Infant food12.0Almonds, pistachios & apricot kernels to be sorted
Total aflatoxins4.0Dried fruit, nuts, cereals ready to eat15.0Nuts to be sorted

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S25-037299Pea & fava bean protein powderAFB10.34
S25-037300Pea & soy protein powderAFB12.24
S25-037454Whey & soy protein powder

AFB1

AFG1

Total AF

0.63

0.29

1.21

S25-037459Pea & rice protein powderAFB10.44
S25-037341Pea based vegan burgerAFB10.12
S25-037457Pea based ready to drink shakeAFB10.23
S25-037303Soy protein & oat barsAFB10.15
MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
ZON20Infant food400Refined maize oil

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxin

Result at or above LOQ, µg/kg

IAC / MM2*

S25-037300Pea & soy protein powderZON2.80 / 2.3
S25-037454Whey & soy protein powderZON2.56 / 2.3
S25-037459Pea & rice protein powderZON1.06 / <2.5
S25-037315Organic tofu (soy)ZON1.28i / <2.5
S25-037339Organic tofu (soy)ZON1.88 / <2.5
S25-037457Pea based ready to drink shakeZON2.08 / <2.5
S25-037304Soy protein & oat barsZON1.67 / 1.7
S25-037453Protein blend barsZON4.85 / 4.6

*Results from 2 different methods for comparison. 

MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
DON200 (GB) / 150 (EU incl NI)Infant food1750Unprocessed durum wheat, oats maize (GB) / Unprocessed oats (EU incl NI)

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxin

Result at or above LOQ, µg/kg

IAC / MM2*

S25-037455Pea protein powder shakeDON3.43
S25-037319Wheat and pea based steakDON11.22 / 12.6
S25-037457Pea based ready to drink shakeDON14.55 
S25-037458Pea based ready to drink shakeDON2.32
S25-037304Soy protein & oat barsDON2.44
S25-037453Protein blend barsDON8.32

*Results from 2 methods for comparison, unless stated result from MM2 method was <10 µg/kg 

MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
Sum FB1 and FB2200Infant food4000Unprocessed maize 

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S25-037454Whey & soy protein powderFB1 & FB220.8
MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
Sum T-2 and HT-2 toxins10 (EU inc. NI) Infant food1250 (EU inc. NI)Unprocessed oat grains 

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S25-037455Pea protein shake powderHT-22.45
S25-037302Protein & cereal barsHT-24.16
MycotoxinLowest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		CommodityHighest GB/EU ML
(µg/kg)		Commodity
Sum ergot alkaloids20 (EU inc. NI) Infant food500 (EU inc. NI)Rye milling products 

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product TypeMycotoxinResult at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S25-037304Soy protein & oat barsSum ergots3.41
S25-037453Protein blend barsSum ergots11.01
S25-037301Vegan plant blend protein powderSum ergots0.56
S25-037319Wheat and pea based steakSum ergots2.81
Tropane AlkaloidsLowest GB/EU ML (µg/kg)CommodityHighest GB/EU MLCommodity

Atropine

Scopolamine

1.0

1.0

Baby food

1.0

1.0

Baby food
Sum of Atropine and Scopolamine

0.2 (EU inc. NI)

5 µg/kg (EU inc. NI)

Liquid herbal infusions

Cereals

50 (EU inc. NI)Dry herbal infusions

Survey results

Sample Number Commodity/Product Type

Tropane alkaloids

 

Result at or above LOQ, µg/kg
S25-037301Vegan plant blend protein powderSc0.45i
S25-037454Whey & soy protein powderSc0.50i
S25-037459Pea & rice protein powderSc0.25i
S25-037453Protein blend barsSum1.17
S25-037318Pea based plant burgerSum0.77
S25-037339Organic tofu (soy)At1.15

 

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9. Summary and Conclusions

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Annex B: Summarised sample information
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