Toxic Elements in Snack Foods: Non‐Carcinogenic and Carcinogenic Risk Assessment Using EDXRF Spectroscopy

Snack foods are widely consumed among children and adults. However, they may act as a source of toxic element exposure through raw material contamination, processing additives, and packaging practices. This study quantified Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn, and Fe in 30 snack samples (corn, n = 21; potato, n = 9) using EDXRF spectroscopy. Health risks were evaluated for adults and children through estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and lifetime cancer risk (LCR). Fe and Zn were the dominant elements in both snack types. Mn was detected in only 12 of 30 samples across corn and potato snacks. Ni was detected in just 2 corn samples ( n = 2) and was not found in any potato sample. Fe and Mn exceeded permissible regulatory limits in multiple samples. THQ values for Cu, Ni, Zn, and Mn remained within safe limits for both age groups. Fe exceeded the threshold, and cumulative HI values surpassed the threshold for adults and children alike, with children showing greater modeled vulnerability. For Ni, LCR values of 1.6E–4 and 2.5E–4 were calculated for adults in the two samples where it was detected, both at or above the accepted risk benchmark, with higher corresponding values for children. These findings support the need for continued toxic element monitoring in snack products.