Heavy metals and preservatives in commercial yoghurt from northern Iraq.

Pb and Cd occurrence, as well as sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and nitrate concentrations, were investigated in 75 commercially available yogurts from the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Validated ICP-MS and HPLC-UV methods revealed good linearity (R2 > 0.995), satisfactory recoveries (90-108%) and appropriate limits of detection. Pb and Cd levels were below maximum limits as established by the European Commission and the Codex Alimentarius. Detection of preservatives in plain yoghurt was not interpreted as straightforward regulatory compliance, as it may indicate unauthorized additive use, carry-over, or product-category/labelling inconsistency. Exposure assessment indicated low non-carcinogenic risk for adults. However, children showed higher relative exposure due to lower body weight, with only the HI value for children in the Sulaymaniyah region marginally exceeding 1. These findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and refined evaluation of cumulative dietary exposure. It also provides baseline data for regional food safety assessment and risk management.