Heavy Metal Profiling of Cashew Apple Products: Evaluating Safety and Nutritional Value

Abstract

Heavy metals in food products pose significant health risks and require evaluation for safety and nutritional quality. Cashew apple juice and its concentrate were analyzed for manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that essential metals such as Mn (0.123–0.145 mg/100 g), Cr (0.223–0.334 mg/100 g), Zn (2.84–5.21 mg/100 g), and Fe (0.41–17.54 mg/100 g) were present in nutritionally beneficial amounts, while toxic metals Cd (0.012–0.022 mg/100 g) and Pb (0.034–0.055 mg/100 g) remained below WHO guideline limits. Based on these findings, both cashew apple juice and its concentrate are safe for consumption and provide meaningful contributions to daily mineral intake.