Nickel content of various Dutch foodstuffs

The nickel content of 260 samples from various types of foods available in the Netherlands was measured by means of flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. In most samples the nickel content was found to be less than 0.5 mg/kg. Two products contained considerably more nickel than all the other foodstuffs, viz. nuts and cacao products, in which nickel concentrations up to 5.1 and 9.8 mg/kg, respectively, were measured. Occasionally nickel contents above 1 mg/kg were found in margarine and sauces.