ZEOTEX Zeolite: A Simple Solution for Heavy Metal Removal from Food
A recent study conducted by the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences in Croatia, Europe has found that ZEOTEX zeolite, a natural mineral, can remove up to 90% of certain heavy metals from food. Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, and mercury can be highly toxic and pose significant health risks when consumed at higher concentrations. This discovery is particularly significant given the increasing frequency of food products being pulled from store shelves due to contamination concerns, as well as growing global concerns about pollution and its impact on health.
Development of an innovative food supplement and high-fineness detoxifier based on natural zeolite mineral
The researchers at the Osijek Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences found that the natural mineral zeolite, specifically ZEOTEX, can remove up to 90% of certain heavy metals from food. The study, "Development of an innovative food supplement and high-fineness detoxifier based on natural zeolite mineral," was led by Prof. Dr. Brigita Popoviฤ of the Department of Plant Physiology and Nutrition at the Institute of Agroecology and Environmental Protection of FAZOS.
In addition to the MANY food products that were pulled from the global market in 2021, mostly due to pesticide contamination, the research comes amid growing global concern about the impact of pollution on health, as well as potential threats from the spread of radioactive particles, especially in Europe.
As Prof. Dr. Brigita Popovic explains,
"Since we know that arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are highly toxic heavy metals that can be found in various foods such as grains, fish and seafood, meat, and fruits and vegetables, we were interested in how we can reduce the intake of heavy metals in the food chain in everyday life using a simple method."
Heavy metals show toxic effects at higher concentrations, and if they are included in the food chain, they pose a significant danger to human and animal health.
The FAZOS study found that ZEOTEX zeolite removes over 90% of certain forms of heavy metals from food using a very simple process: soaking the food in water with added ZEOTEX for up to 30 minutes.
The tests were conducted on rice and berries, and it was found that this method is most effective in removing cadmium and mercury from white rice โ over 90%, and more than 70% of arsenic.
White rice was chosen as one of the most important and widely consumed grains in the world. At the same time, it should be noted that all the detected concentrations of heavy metals in the tested foods were within the limits prescribed by EU and Croatian regulations.
When testing berries, we included a wide range of the most commonly consumed types in Croatia โ raspberries, currants, blackberries, and blueberries.
The results were different for each individual fruit, but the best effect of ZEOTEX on removing heavy metals was found in raspberries, where soaking in the solution removed:
over 90% of cadmium
82% of mercury
76% of arsenic