Health Canada

DEHA Di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) is widely used as a plasticizer in food contact materials, such as PVC food wrapping or cling films used to rewrap meat poultry, fish, cheese, and other foods. DEHA can also be found in PVC gaskets of lids for glass jars. Like other plasticizers, DEHA is not...

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in the production of polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resins. PC is used in food storage containers such as water bottles, and epoxy resins are used in the internal coating for food and beverage cans to protect the food from direct contact with metal. Under...

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a natural toxin produced by fungal species in the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. This naturally occurring toxin can be found in a broad group of agricultural products such as cereal grains, coffee, and fruits. Higher levels of OTA can result from the improper storage of...

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is also present in the environment as a result of human activities. Water bodies can be contaminated with mercury from industrial sources, such as pulp and paper mills, and from the soil when large reservoirs are created by hydro-electric dams....

Learn about the Canadian Total Diet Study (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/food-nutrition-surveillance/canadian-total-diet-study.html) Search through Health Canada's food contaminant data on CANLINE...

Therefore, Health Canada added two new maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in polished (white) and husked (brown) rice, respectively, to Part 2 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods, effective June 5, 2020, as described in the information document.

Overview of Canadian guidelines on the acceptable maximum limits for various chemical contaminants in foods

The List of contaminants and other adulterating substances in foods is a two-part list setting out the conditions under which certain foods are adulterated.

CANLINE is the Food Directorate's (Health Canada) searchable database for chemical, nutritional, and microbiological laboratory surveillance data. This includes data from Canada's Total Diet Study and other targeted surveillance data on contaminants in food. CANLINE data can be searched by...