A contaminant is any substance not intentionally added to food that is present as a result of production, processing, storage or transport, and whose presence at elevated levels poses a risk to human health or renders food unacceptable.
In trade practice
EU maximum levels for contaminants including heavy metals, mycotoxins and processing contaminants are set in Regulation (EU) 2023/915. Suppliers must test finished products and raw materials at accredited laboratories and provide certificates of analysis with each shipment. Border control posts may detain consignments where contaminant levels exceed legal limits. Buyers typically specify which contaminants must be tested and at what frequency in their supplier approval requirements.
In a specification
A product specification should list the contaminants to be tested, state that results must comply with Regulation (EU) 2023/915 and require an accredited certificate of analysis dated within an agreed period before shipment.