Organic certification is not a contaminant proxy

The controlling scientific record is the public Heavy Metal Index synthesis, supported by 7 named anchor sources and expressed for Lead, Cadmium, Aluminum, Nickel, Arsenic.

ICS does not reproduce the source extraction here. Keeping the evidence on the independent index preserves source-level methods, units, species, basis, uncertainty, and review state. This note records only the institutional consequence of that evidence.

Prohibit organic status from substituting for analytical evidence and keep contaminant claims tied to the tested lot, analyte panel, and stated basis.

This disposition may change taxonomy, analyte coverage, test basis, surveillance priority, disclosure, or claim language. It does not allow a market occurrence percentile or a dramatic single study to become an initial certification value.

The finding is published in two additional authority layers: the HMI evidence record and the HMTc certification interpretation. Distribution should prioritize manufacturers, retailers, attorneys, consumer educators while preserving those distinct roles in headlines, briefings, interviews, and social posts.