Issues With CBD Edibles: Heavy Metals Contamination, False Label Claims
The use of cannabidiol (CBD) in food and beverage products or as an edible supplement has grown in recent years. However, the cannabis plant, from which CBD is derived, is known to absorb heavy metal contaminants from soil at high rates. In light of this, a recent study has measured the degree of toxic elements found in CBD products, as well as evaluated CBD product label accuracy.
In the study, researchers quantified the levels of lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, four phthalates, and CBD in a selection of commercially available CBD products found in the U.S. Of the 121 edible CBD products that were tested, 42 percent contained detectible levels of lead, 8 percent contained cadmium, 28 percent contained arsenic, and 37 percent contained mercury. Additionally, four of the tested edible CBD products exceeded 0.5 micrograms per two servings, which is the California Proposition 65 threshold for daily lead consumption.