Evaluation of Zinc, Cadmium, and Nickel Transition from Soy Milk to Soy Cheese

Awareness and concern about soil contamination with metals and their effects on the food chain are increasing. Cereal consumption is one of the major sources of metal exposure which soybean may accumulate more toxic metals than other crops.
Three metal elements including Zn, Cd, and Ni were measured in soy products. First, soymilk and soy cheese (tofu) were prepared by common methods, and then the digested samples were analyzed by ICP-OES. The carryover of metals in different methods was determined.
The soymilk prepared by rapid method showed higher Zn content (P According to the results the method of soybean production, soy soaking, the type of clot and the tendency of elements toward different parts of the product can have a significant effect on the amount of transfer and removal of the metals.