Succimer-coated wooden spoons for in situ removal of heavy metals in food.

Heavy metals in food present significant health risks; however, consumer-level solutions for reducing exposure remain limited. This study presents a novel consumer-focused solution in which succimer (an FDA-approved chelation therapy) is stably grafted onto the surface of a wooden spoon. Using a standard coupling reaction, succimer is covalently attached to lignin in the wood matrix through ester bond formation. Succimer-functionalized spoons elicit improved metal retention compared to the pristine wooden spoon. To demonstrate the efficacy of this food contact device, we tested its use during cooking foods from various sources. The treated spoon removed up to 89.1% of heavy metals from white rice and 97.9% from brown rice, with no significant reduction in iron content, suggesting selective surface chelation. In vivo assays using C. elegans models confirm that the DMSA-functionalized spoon does not induce observable toxicity, suggesting that the spoon remains environmentally safe after surface-modification. Consequently, this low-cost, single-use utensil offers an accessible strategy to reduce dietary exposure to toxic metals during food preparation. Its simplicity and scalability make it particularly promising for global applications in regions where food contamination and access to purification technologies are persistent challenges.