According to a study published in September 2026 by the French consumer organisation “Que choisir”, naturally occurring aluminium was detected in all seven varieties of matcha available on the French market, and four of them exceeded the limit set by France (40 micrograms/kg/day, or 2.8 mg/day for a 70 kg person) * (1). The publication of this study sparked considerable interest on French-speaking social media.
Furthermore, regardless of the limit values set by France, the international body responsible for assessing food safety (JECFA: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) has establisheda provisional tolerable weekly intake of aluminium, estimated to pose no adverse health effects even with lifelong consumption, at 2 mg per kg of body weight per week (equivalent to 20 mg per day for a 70 kg person).
Why has Japan, as a producing country, not publicised this kind of information?
The consumption of naturally occurring aluminium, found in particular in tea, has never before been regarded as a problem in Japan. It can be assumed that this is because very few people in Japan drink matcha on a daily basis.
According to a survey on aluminium intake in Japan conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2011–2012) *(2), the estimated average aluminium intake was below the ‘provisional tolerable intake’ set by JECFA across all age groups. The survey report states that ‘processed cereal products and confectionery contribute significantly to the estimated aluminium intake; it is assumed that this is due to food additives used as raising agents (potassium aluminium sulphate or ammonium aluminium sulphate)’. Furthermore, green tea (sencha), commonly consumed in Japan, releases only a negligible amount of aluminium*(3).
Characteristics of aluminium
Aluminium occurs naturally in soil and water. Most of the aluminium ingested is excreted by the body, and only around 0.1 per cent is absorbed*(4). It is considered that aluminium toxicity primarily affects the central nervous system (encephalopathy, psychomotor disorders) and bone tissue *(5).
Conclusion
As we have seen, the recommended upper limit differs between the EU and JEFCA; JEFCA recommends a threshold seven times higher. We are obviously not in a position to decide, but the precautionary principle leads us to stick to one cup of matcha (2 g) per day - equivalent to approximately 2 mg of aluminium. Furthermore, 2 g of matcha contains approximately 64 mg of caffeine; pregnant women and those who need to limit their caffeine intake should therefore exercise the same caution as with coffee.
Tolerable intake levels for aluminium according to the agencies
|
JECFA |
EFSA |
ANSES |
|
|
Per week/kg |
2 mg |
1 mg |
0.28 mg |
|
Per day/kg |
0.29 mg |
0.143 mg |
0.04 mg |
|
For an adult weighing 70kg |
20 mg/day |
10 mg/day |
2.8 mg/day |
Anses : French sanitary agency
EFSA : European sanitary agency
Bibliography/References
- Que choisir: ‘Of the seven products in our panel, all contain aluminium, and four exceed the reference value set by the French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) (1). 23/09/2026
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Affairs: ‘Results of the survey on aluminium intake conducted using the consumer basket method for the years Heisei 23 to 24 (2011 to 2012)’, https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11130500-Shokuhinanzenbu/0000140251.pdf
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries “Results of the survey on the levels of lead, aluminium and other substances in green tea for Reiwa 1 (2019)”, https://www.maff.go.jp/j/syouan/seisaku/kakou/greentea_pb.html
- Shunsuke Iizuka ‘Study on the absorption, metabolism and excretion of aluminium’, https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/ja/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-06807035/
- ANSES ‘Dietary exposure to aluminium’, https://www.anses.fr/fr/content/exposition-aluminium-par-alimentation
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