Long-term study on cadmium concentrations in the tissues of kids and goats in the Czech Republic (Central Europe)

This study focused on evaluating the cadmium (Cd) concentration in edible parts of goats and kids using data from the monitoring conducted by the State Veterinary Administration in the Czech Republic in 1993–2023. Over a thirty-year period, a total of 26 goats and 4 kids were analysed for Cd in kidney, liver, and muscle tissues. In goats, a higher mean Cd content was found in kidneys (0.358 ± 0.091 mg/kg) and liver (0.100 ± 0.022 mg/kg) compared to muscles (0.005 ± 0.001 mg/kg) ( P = 0.006 and P = 0.002, respectively). In kids, the Cd content was 0.009 ± 0.002 mg/kg, 0.012 ± 0.003 mg/kg, 0.005 ± 0.001 mg/kg in the liver, kidneys, and muscle, respectively. The Cd content in both the liver and kidneys differed significantly between kids and goats, being higher in goats ( P = 0.004 and P = 0.007, respectively). Regulation 2023/915 does not set a maximum limit for Cd content in goat liver, kidneys, and muscle for human consumption, but the State Veterinary Administration compares the results with the ‘action limits’ which are the same as for sheep, according to the aforementioned regulation. Although Cd was detected in all examined samples, the ‘action limit’ for human consumption in kids was not exceeded in any sample. In goats, it was exceeded in four of the 26 kidney samples (15% of samples). It is concluded that the consumption of goat meat is not potentially risky to human health but active surveillance is necessary to protect public health.