Contaminants and minerals in foods for infants and young children - analytical results

A project was carried out by the National Food Agency to analyse and assess contaminants and minerals in foods for infants and young children. Essential minerals (copper, iron, and manganese) and unintentionally present metals, so called contaminants (arsenic, cadmium and lead), were analysed in close to 100 different products intended for infants and young children. For comparison, a composite sample of human breast milk from 90 women was analysed as well. The samples were analysed by ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) using two different methods. One method is accredited for the analysed contaminants and minerals, and fullfils the criteria for official control of levels of contaminants (lead and cadmium) in foodstuffs. The other method is not accredited but has a higher sensitivity and thus lower concentrations could be quantified. The concentration of the contaminants ranged from below 0.001 up to 0.04 milligrams per kilogram ‘ready for use’ product. The highest concentrations of arsenic (0.04 mg/kg) were found in rice-based products whereas processed cerealbased foods (PCBF) contained the largest amounts of cadmium (up to 0.01 mg/kg). The highest lead concentrations (up to 0.02 mg/kg) were found in foods for special medical purposes (FSMP, e.g. products intended for children with allergy or inborn errors of metabolism). Minerals had been intentionally added to most products intended for infants and young children. The highest average concentrations of minerals were found in FSMP for young children. For copper the concentration was close to 160 μg/100 g, which is three times higher than in the other product categories. The average concentration of manganese was close to 250 μg/100 g in FSMP for young children as well as in PCBF (porridge). Regarding iron, the average concentration was around 1 mg/100 g for most of the product categories. The lowest average concentration of iron was 0.31 mg/100 g in foodstuffs for normal consumption.SE; en; veronica.ohrvik@slv.s