Residues and contaminants in baby food and baby bottles: development and validation of analytical methods

Abstract

Infants represent a vulnerable group to the toxicity of certain compounds formed during thermal processing of the food, migrants from packaging and environmental contaminants since the metabolic pathways are still immature and food intake per body weight is higher as compared to adults. Evidence suggests that early exposure to these compounds increases the risk of developing certain chronic diseases, including some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases as well as disorders in the endocrine system and reproductive system. Moreover, the European Community has established maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in processed baby foods, as well as specific migration limits (SML) for additives such as phthalates, antioxidants, and nitrosamines in materials food contact. Until now, studies on the occurrence formed contaminants during thermal processing such as acrylamide and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and PAHs, certain environmental contaminants and packaging migrant such as pesticide residues, perfluorinated compounds, phthalates, antioxidants, and nitrosamines as well as studies on the levels of natural estrogens, have not been conducted in children's food and food contact materials for children available commercially in Brazil. In this scenario, the proposed project aims to develop analytical methods with reference selective and sensitive analytical techniques for sample preparation, such as solid phase extraction, liquid-liquid microextraction dispersive, extraction ion pair and accelerated solvent extraction, combined spectrometry of high resolution mass and sequentially in order to achieve the limits set by the European Community maximize the extraction of analytes of interest, minimize the matrix effect, and hence, to obtain accurate and precise results about the occurrence of these compounds in infant foods and baby bottles. (AU)