Abstract
In this work, two different but complementary approaches were used to evaluate the reliability of fish-based baby foods as a source of safe nourishment for babies. More specifically, barcoding analysis based on the Cytochrome Oxidase I sequences was used for fish species authentication and an analysis of metal/metalloid levels was performed to estimate the exposure risk assessment derived from consumption of selected fish-based baby food in infants and toddlers. COI DNA barcoding revealed that in three samples the species detected did not match the common name of the species shown on the label. In particular, G. chalcogrammus and M. australis were found in place of M. merluccius and O. mykiss was found in place of S. salar. The analysis of exposure risk assessment indicated a low risk for developing chronic systemic and carcinogenic effects in infants and toddler, under an exposure scenario based on daily consumption of a single box of fish-based baby food. However, it is important to highlight that in order to provide a comprehensive risk assessment it would be important to supplement the levels of exposure resulting from the total diet. Overall, our results suggest that more attention should be paid by authorities to ensure the safety of food for infants and toddlers.
Highlights
Infants (6–12 months) and toddlers (1–3 years) are vulnerable to dietary exposure to contaminants due to their physiological characteristics, which enhance their vulnerability to the noxious effects of chemicals [1]
Eleven species were identified in all examined baby food products—Sparus aurata (Sparidae), Pleuronectes platessa (Pleuronectidae), Dicentrarchus labrax (Moronidae), Salmo trutta (Salmonidae), Merluccius merluccius (Merlucciidae), Merluccius australis (Merluccidae), Salmo salar (Salmonidae), Oncorhynchus nerka (Salmonidae), Oncorhynchus mykiss (Salmonidae), Gadus morhua (Gadidae) and Gadus chalcogrammus (Gadidae)
Alongside the many advantages provided by c oxidase I (COI) DNA barcoding in fish species identification, some limitations have been highlighted such as the inefficiency in the detection of hybrids [37] due to the introgression resulting from hybridization; the presence of multiple mitochondrial pseudogenes in the nuclear genome that could be interpreted as mitochondrial DNA variants [38] heteroplasmy due to the presence of multiple mtDNA haplotypes in a single organism [39]
Summary
Infants (6–12 months) and toddlers (1–3 years) are vulnerable to dietary exposure to contaminants due to their physiological characteristics, which enhance their vulnerability to the noxious effects of chemicals [1]. For these reasons, the European Union (EU) has issued numerous regulations to guarantee that ready-to-eat foods for infants meet specific requirements for packaging and nutritional, physical, chemical and microbiological safety (EC No 2073/2005, EC No 125/2006, EC No 1881/2006, EC No 141/2006, EU No 10/2011, EC No 52/2016, EC No 213/2018). Concerning the rules for labelling, the regulation EU No 127/2016, which implements regulation EU No 1169/2011, includes the compositional requirements and nutrition declaration for infant formula and follow-on formula ready-for-use. The products most considered in these studies have been fruit
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