The contents of lead, cadmium, copper, iron and zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 30 samples of canned liver paté. Each sample was divided into five portions based on their contact with a specific part of the container. Statistically significant differences (p < 0·001) were found to exist among the brands for all the minerals and among the portions only in the case of lead. The differences in the concentration of lead between the portion nearest to the solder on the side flap (X = 2·43 mg/mkg) and the rest of the portions (X = 1·03 mg/kg) were statistically significant (p < 0·001). However, the differences observed for cadmium, copper, iron and zinc are not significant (p < 0·05). The concentration levels were compared to literature data and the influence of the solder as a lead contaminator was shown.