Safety Assessment and Distribution Characteristics of Heavy Metal Pollutants in Livestock and Poultry Meat from Different Regions of China

[Objective] To analyze and compare the heavy metal inspection results of different livestock and poultry meat from different farms, wholesale markets, farmers’ markets and supermarkets in different areas of China, in order to evaluate the health risks of livestock and poultry meat. [Method] A total of 10 500 samples of 5 kinds of livestock and poultry meat were collected in North China, Northeast China, East China, Central China, South China, Southwest China and Northwest China during 2015-2017. The samples were analyzed and evaluated with the method of index of food safety (IFS). [Result] the average over-standard rates of Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg and As in samples were 1.10%-2.48%, 0.67%-2.48%, 1.00%-2.57%, 0.81%-1.43% and 0.43%-1.00%, respectively, and the index of food safety was less than 1. The pollution levels of Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg and As in livestock and poultry meat in Southwest China were higher than those in other areas, while the pollution of As in Northeast China was severer than that in other areas. The order of IFS values of different heavy metals in different livestock and poultry meat was the same. [Conclusion] The index of food safety showed that the risk of heavy metal pollution in livestock and poultry meat did not exceed the acceptable limit.