A guide value (Richtwert) for cadmium concentration in confection sunflower was established by Germany at 0.60 mg kg-1 dry weight. This value has caused considerable concern for the U.S. confection industry with respect to international marketing since seed being produced on poorly drained, silty clay soils (containing higher chloride) of North Dakota and Minnesota had kernel cadmium concentrations reaching 1.33 mg kg-1 dry weight. Export shipments were being rejected at ports in Europe. Research found that if confection sunflower hybrids were planted on well drained, silty loam, sandy loam, or black calcareous loam soils, hybrids with kernel cadmium contents averaging 0.70 to 0.90 mg kg-1 could be produced. After screening two hundred genotypes of the USDA Plant Introduction collection, two lines, Primrose (PI 490318) and HA 290 (PI 552935) were found to have very low cadmium uptake. However, these lines were oilseed type sunflower. Crosses were made and selections in subsequent generations resulted in the release of three new confection germplasm lines, HA 448 and HA 449 (maintainer lines) and RHA 450 (restorer line). Hybrids produced by crossing HA 448 and HA 449 with the restorer RHA 450 were compared with the commercial hybrid, Hybrid 924, after planting on Fargo clay (silty clay, typic Endoaquerts) soil. The kernel cadmium content of hybrids HA 448/RHA 450 and HA 449/RHA 450 averaged 0.68 mg kg-1 and 0.67 mg kg-1, respectively. The average of Hybrid 924 was 1.38 mg kg-1. These two hybrids, when planted on well drained silty loam, sandy loam, or black calcareous loam soils, will result in hybrids with kernel cadmium contents averaging below the 0.60 mg kg-1 European guide value.