Evaluation of Lead and Cadmium Levels in Canned Foods Available in Supermarkets in Abuja, North Central Nigeria

Canned foods are increasingly consumed in Nigerian urban centres, but migration of heavy metals from can linings into food contents presents a toxicological risk that warrants systematic investigation. This study evaluates lead and cadmium concentrations in fifteen commercially available canned food products, including tomato paste, sardines, and baked beans, purchased from three supermarkets in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, North Central Nigeria. Samples are wet-digested using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in a closed-vessel microwave system and analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Duplicate analyses and certified reference materials are used to validate analytical accuracy and precision. Measured concentrations are compared against the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee tolerable weekly intakes and Codex Alimentarius maximum levels for lead and cadmium in processed foods. Estimated weekly intakes are calculated using average Nigerian consumption data from the National Nutrition Survey. The study documents can manufacturing origin, lining type, and storage duration as covariates in interpreting contamination patterns. Results are anticipated to show lead concentrations above acceptable limits in a subset of imported products with lacquer-free can seams. Findings contribute to post-market surveillance data that can strengthen enforcement by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in urban Nigeria. Keywords: lead, cadmium, canned foods, heavy metals, Abuja