High cadmium and nickel contents in sunflower kernels intended for human consumption are reported. The cadmium contents of 55 samples from North America and Europe were 0.25-0.69 mg/kg with averages from different countries of 0.32-0.54 mg/kg. The contents in kernels from bird seeds (i.e. animal feed) from China and Egypt were much lower. The cadmium content of sunflower kernels for human consumption might pose a risk to human health. Danish authorities recommend the Danish consumers do not eat large amounts of sunflower kernels for a long period of time. The nickel contents of 25 of the samples of kernels for human consumption were 2.3-5.3 mg/kg. This is comparable with that found in different kinds of nuts with high nickel contents.