Shilajit & Heavy Metals: How to Read a Certificate of Analysis (COA)
In short: Raw shilajit comes straight from rock layers and can therefore naturally contain heavy metals such as lead, arsenic or mercury. What matters is that a supplier sells purified resin and has every batch tested by an independent, accredited laboratory – documented in a certificate of analysis (COA) with batch number, test method and results. This article explains how to read such a certificate and which EU maximum levels apply.
Why heavy metals are the number one issue when buying shilajit
Shilajit forms over long periods in rock crevices – it is quite literally a product of the rock itself. Depending on the region, collection site and purification process, raw material can contain rock residues and with them geogenic heavy metals. The German consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) points out that mumijo products have repeatedly attracted attention in the past for elevated heavy metal levels, and international analyses of unregulated raw material have come to similar findings. This does not mean every shilajit is contaminated – it means that the question of laboratory testing is not a formality but the single most important purchase criterion. A supplier who merely advertises with the words “lab tested” without showing documents has not answered the question.
Which maximum levels apply in the EU?
For food supplements, Regulation (EU) 2023/915 (the successor to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006) sets binding maximum levels for certain contaminants:
| Element | EU maximum level for food supplements | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | 3.0 mg/kg | based on the product as sold |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 1.0 mg/kg | higher special values apply only to certain algae products |
| Mercury (Hg) | 0.10 mg/kg | the strictest of the three values |
| Arsenic (As) | no specific EU maximum level for food supplements | reputable laboratories test for it anyway; general food safety law remains decisive |
Two things are worth knowing here. First, these are maximum levels – good products sit well below them, often beneath the laboratory's limit of quantification. Second, the values refer to milligrams per kilogram of product; at a daily amount of less than one gram of resin, the quantity actually ingested is smaller by orders of magnitude (worked example below).
The certificate of analysis, line by line
A credible COA (certificate of analysis) almost always follows the same structure. Check these seven points:
- Laboratory and accreditation: the name of an independent laboratory, ideally accredited to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. A seller's own in-house measurements are no substitute.
- Batch number (lot/batch): it must match the number on your packaging. A certificate without a batch reference only proves that something was tested at some point.
- Test date: matching the batch, not years old.
- Analyte and method: the elements examined (at least Pb, Cd, Hg, As) and the measurement technique – the standard for heavy metals is ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry).
- Result with unit: usually mg/kg (= ppm) or µg/kg (= ppb). Watch the unit – there is a factor of 1,000 between them.
- Limit of quantification (LOQ): entries such as “< 0.01 mg/kg” mean: below what the method can reliably measure – the best possible result.
- Assessment against limits: good certificates place the measured value next to the EU maximum level so you can see the margin directly.
Ideally, the COA covers not only heavy metals but also microbiology (microbial counts, moulds, salmonella) and the fulvic acid content – the latter with the measurement method stated, because gravimetric and spectrophotometric methods yield percentage figures that differ by a factor of two to three. An “85% fulvic acid” claim without a stated method is therefore a marketing number, not an analysis.
Worked example: what does the measured value mean for a daily amount?
Suppose a COA reports 0.5 mg/kg for lead – well below the maximum level of 3.0 mg/kg. At a typical daily amount of 0.3 g of resin, the calculation is: 0.5 mg/kg × 0.0003 kg = 0.00015 mg, i.e. 0.15 micrograms per day. For comparison: staple foods such as cereals, vegetables or cocoa also contribute to everyday lead intake. Converting to the actual quantity consumed is the step that marketing buzzwords skip – and precisely the step that turns a lab table into an informed purchase decision.
Red flags: when a “certificate” is not one
- “Certificate on request” – those who test, show it. Stalling tactics are a dealbreaker in this product category.
- No batch number, or a number that does not match the goods delivered.
- No laboratory name / no accreditation – anyone can create an anonymous PDF table.
- An ancient test date for a product that is continuously produced anew.
- Only a single element tested (often just lead) instead of the usual panel of Pb, Cd, Hg, As.
- A fulvic acid percentage without a measurement method – see above.
- Badge graphics (“lab tested”, “premium quality”) with no underlying document – such terms are not legally protected.
This checklist is part of our larger set of criteria for choosing a supplier: Shilajit Test & Comparison. And if you want to check the delivered goods yourself, you will find the matching home tests in the article How to Identify Genuine Shilajit: 7 Tests Against Fakes.
What a COA cannot do
For completeness: a certificate of analysis documents the purity and composition of a batch – no more and no less. It makes no statements about effects of the product; such claims are not authorised for shilajit in the EU in any case. That is exactly why our quality communication focuses on what can be verified: origin, purification, standardisation and published laboratory values. How our testing process works in detail – from raw resin to the published batch COA – is documented transparently on the page Lab Tests & Quality.
With a published COA for every batch: Vitadote® Shilajit Resin 30g – standardised to 76–83% fulvic acid, every batch independently tested for heavy metals. Or Vitadote® Shilajit Tablets 120×200mg – taste-neutral, precisely dosed, made from the same tested raw material.
Frequently asked questions
Is shilajit inherently contaminated with heavy metals?
No – but raw material can be, depending on origin and purification. That is why batch-specific laboratory testing is the only reliable way to rule out contamination.
What does “ppm” mean on the certificate?
Parts per million – identical to mg/kg. “ppb” (parts per billion) corresponds to µg/kg and is a thousand times smaller. Always check which unit the laboratory uses.
Is one certificate per product enough?
No. Shilajit is a natural product whose composition varies from batch to batch. Only a COA bearing the batch number that also appears on your packaging is meaningful.
Which values should be tested at a minimum?
Lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic (ICP-MS), ideally supplemented by microbiological parameters and the fulvic acid content including the measurement method.
Is “lab tested” a protected term?
No. Any supplier may advertise with it. The term only carries weight once the full certificate with laboratory name, batch number and methods is available for inspection.
Are tablets less of a concern than resin?
The question of raw material purity is exactly the same – tablets are made from the same resin or extract. Here too: insist on a batch COA.
Sources & further reading
- Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food. EUR-Lex
- Verbraucherzentrale: Mumijo – notes on heavy metal contamination. verbraucherzentrale.de
- Stohs (2014): Safety and efficacy of shilajit (mumie, moomiyo). Phytotherapy Research. PubMed search
- Agarwal et al. (2007): Shilajit: a review. Phytotherapy Research. PubMed search
This article is for neutral information purposes and does not replace medical advice. Food supplements are no substitute for a balanced, varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you have a medical condition, take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before use.
Redaktion shilajitkaufen.com – We write to a fixed editorial standard: studies reported neutrally, no healing claims, sources under every article. More about our quality criteria: Lab Tests & Quality.