No excessive lead content detected in food samples - National Food Agency

Georgian authorities have detected no excessive lead in food sold in the country after inspecting ​​118 samples of various products, the National Food Agency announced on Thursday. 

Samples of meat, milk, fish and baby food products in six regions of Georgia, including capital Tbilisi, were subjected to the inspection.

After investigating the presence of heavy metals, including lead, in food of animal and plant origin ​​and water, the Agency said the “minimisation of violations” had been the result of “intensified controls”, “special measures” taken by the body and its “active communication” with the business sector over the recent years.

Additionally, a memorandum was signed today between the Georgian Agriculture Ministry, the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health and the United Nations Children’s Fund in Georgia to prevent lead exposure to children and adults, with the document involving research on the content of lead in spices, the Agriculture Ministry said. 

The memorandum aims to implement a programme that will ensure the study of the issue, while also enabling the Agency to develop recommendations to ensure safe nutrition for children.

In 2017, 97 out of 712 food samples showed violations of norms for their contents, while last year, presence of lead did not exceed the permissible limit in any of the 500 samples examined, the Agency said.