PROBLEM DISCUSSION Many parts of the world regard fresh vegetables as healthy perishable produce. Words like "it is safe to consume" are widely accepted. What if I told you that many serious diseases emanate from invisible risks in the food supply? Yes, heavy metal contamination is one of those risks. These metals are also called trace elements. Some examples include copper, lead, magnesium, and cadmium. They build up in agricultural soils and get absorbed directly into the c