Heavy Metal Certification
Our certification program provides comprehensive testing and verification for heavy metal contamination in food, supplements, and consumer products.
Apply for CertificationComprehensive Heavy Metal Testing
Lead (Pb)
Testing for lead contamination using ICP-MS methodology with detection limits meeting FDA and international standards.
Arsenic (As)
Total arsenic and speciated arsenic analysis to differentiate between organic and inorganic forms.
Cadmium (Cd)
Cadmium testing with strict thresholds based on product category and intended use.
Mercury (Hg)
Total mercury and methylmercury analysis for products where mercury exposure is a primary concern.
Chromium (Cr)
Total chromium quantified by ICP-MS. Toxicity depends heavily on form, with hexavalent chromium behaving very differently from the trivalent chromium found in food.
Nickel (Ni)
Nickel quantified by ICP-MS. The EU introduced maximum levels for nickel across a range of foods in 2024, bringing new scrutiny to ingredients that take up nickel from soil.
Tin (Sn)
Tin quantified by ICP-MS, most relevant to canned and tinplate-packaged foods, where migration from the can into the food is the primary route.
Aluminum (Al)
Aluminum quantified by ICP-MS. It is not strictly a heavy metal, but it is included for dietary exposure, particularly in infant and cereal-based foods.
Certification Options
Heavy Metal Tested
Core certification for products meeting heavy metal safety thresholds.
- 8 heavy metals tested
- Annual testing required
- Use of HMT seal
- Listed on certified brands directory
HMT + 1 Certification
Heavy Metal Tested combined with one additional Paleo Foundation certification.
- Everything in HMT
- One additional cert (Paleo, Keto, or Grain Free)
- Bundled pricing savings
- Cross-program brand visibility
HMT + Multi Cert
Heavy Metal Tested combined with multiple additional certifications.
- Everything in HMT
- Two or more additional certifications
- Maximum pricing savings
- Premium brand positioning