To investigate the aluminum residue levels in flour products sold in a certain province in Northwest China and assess population dietary exposure risks.

A total of 333 fried flour products, baked goods and Liangpi sold in a certain province in Northwest China from 2023 to 2024 were collected. The products were tested using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method specified in GB 5009.268—2016 National food safety standard-Determination of multi-elements in foods, with contamination indices analyzed to evaluate aluminum residues. Dietary exposure risks were assessed using point evaluation methods based on adult consumption patterns.

Among 333 batches of wheat flour product samples, the overall detection rate of aluminum was 85.3%, the exceedance rate was 0%, and the average residual concentration was 5.71 mg/kg. For the 3 kinds of commercially available wheat flour products, the single-factor pollution index of aluminum was all less than 1, and the comprehensive pollution index was all less than 0.7, indicating a clean pollution level and a safe pollution grade. The average dietary aluminum exposure of adult residents in this province through the 4 kinds of commercially available wheat flour products was 0.019 mg/(kg·BW), which accounted for 0.97% of the provisional tolerated weekly intake (PTWI) of aluminum. For the high-exposure population, the average dietary aluminum exposure through the 4 kinds of commercially available wheat flour products was 0.046 mg/(kg·BW), accounting for 2.32% of the PTWI. Among the 4 kinds of wheat flour products, fried wheat flour products contributed the most to dietary aluminum exposure. For adult residents of different genders and age groups (18–44 years old, 45–60 years old, and over 60 years old) in this province, both the mean value and the 95th percentile (P₉₅) value of daily dietary aluminum exposure from wheat flour products did not exceed the PTWI, which indicated a low risk of dietary aluminum exposure from commercially available wheat flour products in this province.

In a province in Northwest China, various types of commercially available wheat flour products exhibit generally mild aluminum pollution and relatively high safety from 2023 to 2024. Consistent with the low aluminum residual levels detected, the average dietary exposure and high-exposure dietary risks of aluminum for adult residents across different genders and age groups remain within acceptable ranges. However, continuous attention and monitoring of food safety risks in wheat flour products are still necessary, and targeted measures should be implemented to further prevent and reduce the risk of dietary aluminum exposure from these products.