ArticleFoods (Basel, Switzerland)2026
Assessment of Essential and Toxic Elements in Commercial Diet Catering Meal Plants in Poland: Compliance with Nutritional Recommendations.
Article in Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND/
objectivesCommercial meal delivery diets are increasingly used as a convenient alternative to home-prepared meals. However, limited data are available regarding their mineral composition and potential exposure to toxic elements. This study aimed to evaluate the content of selected essential minerals (Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se and Zn) and toxic elements (Cd and Pb) in daily food rations (DFRs) offered by selected commercial catering services in Poland.
methodsDFRs representing three dietary models (Hashimoto, DASH, and low-carb diets) were collected from commercial catering providers. Concentrations of essential minerals were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), whereas toxic elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Mineral adequacy was assessed using Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) reference values. Exposure to toxic elements was evaluated using Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), estimated weekly Intake (EWI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Carcinogenic Risk (CR) indices.
resultsCa was the nutrient most frequently supplied in insufficient amounts, with 80-98% of analyzed meal plans failing to meet the EAR. In contrast, the remaining minerals were generally supplied in adequate amounts. Nevertheless, excessive intake of selected minerals was observed in some dietary models, with up to 37% of DASH diets exceeding the UL for Zn and approximately 32% of Hashimoto diets exceeding the UL for Cu. Although Cd and Pb were detected in all analyzed DFRs, THQ and CR values indicated negligible health risk.
conclusionsThe analyzed meal delivery diets generally provided adequate amounts of most investigated minerals and did not pose a significant health risk related to Cd or Pb exposure. However, these findings apply only to the analyzed meal plans and should not be generalized to all commercial catering services or seasonal menu cycles in Poland. The widespread inadequacy of Ca intake and the occurrence of excessive Zn and Cu intake in selected dietary models highlight the need for improved nutritional quality control of commercially prepared diets.
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