Overview
- Prosecutors in Saint-Quentin confirmed Friday a preliminary inquiry into Le Creuset over 2025 wastewater cadmium breaches at its Fresnoy-le-Grand foundry.
- Prefectural orders issued in February required urgent fixes after treated effluent exceeded the legal cadmium limit seven times between February and October 2025.
- Le Creuset says it halted the discharge of fine dust, improved waste tracking, and that cadmium pigments are sealed in the outer enamel and do not touch food.
- Following Thursday’s request from Socialist senators, the Senate could open a probe into soil contamination as the government considers cutting cadmium caps in phosphate fertilizers to 20 mg/kg from 90 mg in France.
- France’s main farm union, FNSEA, supports lower limits if low-cadmium supplies are affordable, while Anses says food drives most exposure but finds no clear cancer link from diet and does not confirm a claimed 48% cadmium drop in organic foods.