Sunflower is a cadmium accumulator, and this heavy metal can cause liver and kidney diseases in humans and livestock. Cadmium present in the seed concentrates into the meal during crushing. Depending on the geographical origin, sunflower seeds run the risk of having cadmium levels leading to levels exceeding the limit in the meal. Directive 2002/32/EC limits the presence of cadmium in feed materials of vegetable origin to 1 ppm (FEDIOL, 2010).
English