Concentrations of copper were determined in 321 foods of animal origin collected on Croatian farms and
in fish collected at different market places along the Croatian coast. The foods included meat samples of
wild boar, cattle, pigs, poultry, horse, goat, meat products (ham, sausages and pâté), three marine fish
species, and milk and eggs. The copper level ranges (mg/kg) measured were: 0.01 to 15.3 in meat and
meat products, 0.001e32.9 mg/kg in marine fish meat, 0.002 to 3.51 in milk, and 0.01 to 6.75 in eggs. The
highest mean copper content was found (4.93 mg/kg) in the marine fish species picarel (Spicara smaris)
and in the meat of wild boars (3.12 mg/kg). The lowest mean copper level was in milk (0.29 mg/kg).
Differences in mean metal levels were found to be significant among the meat items and among fish
species. The results presented in this study indicate that copper levels in most foods of animal origin
produced and commonly consumed in Croatia were similar to or lower than those from other parts of
the world, with the exception of beef, which had higher levels than those reported in other countries.