Cereal-based Baby Foods Research Articles

Presence of mycotoxin in commercial infant formulas and baby foods from Italian market

In this study a total of 75 commercially Italian samples of baby foods, including 13 infant formula milks (infant formula powders, ready-to-use preparation), 11 dairy products (cheese and yogurt), 25 cereal-based baby foods, 16 fruit and vegetables compotes, and 10 fruit and vegetables purees (composed of pear, peach, banana and for apple), were analyzed to provide an overview on mycotoxin presence. The presence was carried out by evaluating of 23 mycotoxins: ochratoxin-A (OTA), patulin (PAT), two aflatoxins (AFM1, AFB1), three zearalenones (ZONs), which include zearalenone (ZON) and its metabolites (α-zearalenol (α-ZOL) and β-zearalenol (β-ZOL)), nine trichothecenes: deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON and 15-ADON), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), nivalenol (NIV), fusarenon-X (FUS-X), T-2 toxin (T-2) and HT-2 toxin (HT-2), and five emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), and beauvericin (BEA). Analytical results showed that 31% of cereal-based baby foods presented levels of mycotoxins. The frequencies of detected mycotoxins, OTA, DON, HT-2, FUS-X, NIV, β-ZOL, ENB, ENB1, ENB4, ENA1 and, BEA, in analyzed samples were 20%, 21%, 3%, 24%, 4%, 7%, 15%, 1%, 5%, 4%, and 1%, respectively. The high value registered was for a cereal-based baby food which contained 832 μg/kg of ENB. 27% of analyzed samples presented co-occurrence of different mycotoxins.

RP-HPLC-DAD studies on acrylamide in cereal-based baby foods

This paper assesses the use of ion-pair reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD) set at 200nm to determine the acrylamide concentration in cereal-based baby foods. The best sample preparation involved the extraction of acrylamide with 80% methanol in water, defatting with hexane, freezing and cleaning by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with Oasis HLB cartridges. The column used was a Synergi Hydro-RP 80 A with 5mM sodium 1-heptanesulfonate in water/acetonitrile (97/3, v/v) as the mobile phase. The RP-HPLC-DAD method presented a limit of detection (LOD) of 10.0μg/kg, relative standard deviations (RDS) lower than 5.0% and recovery of 106.0%. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of acrylamide in four groups of commercial cereal-based baby foods with relatively low levels of acrylamide and including difficult matrices. The acrylamide levels in ready-to-eat and instant baby foods, candy-bars and cakes were 10.8–15.7μg/kg, 19.2–59.9μg/kg, 39.0–61.2μg/kg and 13.3–49.5μg/kg, respectively. The RP-HPLC-DAD method may be used as a convenient, reliable and low-cost alternative system for liquid and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry methods and can be easily adopted by non-specialized analytical laboratories.

Acrylamide exposure among Turkish toddlers from selected cereal-based baby food samples

In this study, acrylamide exposure from selected cereal-based baby food samples was investigated among toddlers aged 1-3 years in Turkey. The study contained three steps. The first step was collecting food consumption data and toddlers' physical properties, such as gender, age and body weight, using a questionnaire given to parents by a trained interviewer between January and March 2012. The second step was determining the acrylamide levels in food samples that were reported on by the parents in the questionnaire, using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. The last step was combining the determined acrylamide levels in selected food samples with individual food consumption and body weight data using a deterministic approach to estimate the acrylamide exposure levels. The mean acrylamide levels of baby biscuits, breads, baby bread-rusks, crackers, biscuits, breakfast cereals and powdered cereal-based baby foods were 153, 225, 121, 604, 495, 290 and 36 μg/kg, respectively. The minimum, mean and maximum acrylamide exposures were estimated to be 0.06, 1.43 and 6.41 μg/kg BW per day, respectively. The foods that contributed to acrylamide exposure were aligned from high to low as bread, crackers, biscuits, baby biscuits, powdered cereal-based baby foods, baby bread-rusks and breakfast cereals.

Determination of organophosphorus pesticides and metabolites in cereal-based baby foods and wheat flour by means of ultrasound-assisted extraction and hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction prior to gas chromatography with nitrogen phosphorus detection

A new method based on hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) has been developed for the determination of a group of organophosphorus pesticides, including some of their metabolites, in two commercial cereal-based baby foods and one wheat flour prior to gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphorus detection. Samples were first extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction with acetonitrile (ACN) containing 1.25% (v/v) of formic acid. After evaporation and reconstitution in Milli-Q water, the HF-LPME procedure, using 1-octanol as extraction solvent, was applied followed by a desorption step in ACN, which clearly improved the performance of the technique. The effects of sample pH, ionic strength, stirring rate, extraction temperature and time as well as the desorption procedure were investigated. Under the optimum conditions that involved the extraction of the analytes from 10mL of the water reconstituted extract at pH 7.0 containing 5% (w/v) of NaCl for 45min at 960rpm, the method was validated in terms of linearity, precision and accuracy. The limits of detection (LODs) were between 0.29 and 3.20μg/kg. The extraction of Milli-Q water, as an example of the applicability of the procedure to aqueous samples, allowed achieving LODs in the range 0.01–0.04μg/L. Such values, together with the ones achieved for the rest of the samples, are below or equal to the maximum residue limits specified by the European Union.

Preparation of Test Material and Evaluation of a Proficiency Test for Official Food Control Laboratories on the Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Baby Food

A proficiency test on the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was organized by the German National Reference Laboratory for PAH in 2010. The test samples were produced by spiking cereal-based instant baby food with PAHs at concentration levels between 0.6 and 3.8 μg/kg; homogeneity and stability of the test material were verified before sample dispatch. Twenty-one official laboratories from Germany and Austria participated in the test and the evaluation of the test was done by applying methods of robust statistics. The individual performance was assessed with the help of z-scores. As to the quantitative results, the dispersion of data for the most important group of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), benz(a)anthracene (BaA), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), and chrysene (CHR) appeared to be acceptable, with a relative robust standard deviation ranging from 13.2% for BbF to 26.7% for BaA. In total, the performance of one laboratory had to be rated as unsatisfactory because of a result for BaP outside the limits of tolerance. The methods applied in the test may be considered to be comparable, as no significant effects in the distribution of data could be attributed to certain analytical procedures.

Pesticide residue analysis in cereal-based baby foods using multi-walled carbon nanotubes dispersive solid-phase extraction

In the present study, a new analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of 15 organophosphorus pesticides, including some of their metabolites, (disulfoton-sulfoxide, ethoprophos, cadusafos, dimethoate, terbufos, disulfoton, chlorpyrifos-methyl, malaoxon, fenitrothion, pirimiphos-methyl, malathion, chlorpyrifos, terbufos-sulfone, disulfoton-sulfone and fensulfothion) in three different types of commercial cereal-based baby foods. Dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was used together with gas chromatography with nitrogen phosphorus detection. Most favorable conditions involved a previous ultrasound-assisted extraction of the sample with acetonitrile containing formic acid. After evaporation of the extract and redissolution in water, a dSPE procedure was carried out with MWCNTs. The whole method was validated in terms of repeatability, linearity, precision and accuracy and matrix effect was also evaluated. Absolute recoveries were in the range 64-105 % with relative standard deviation values below 7.6 %. Limits of quantification achieved ranged from 0.31 to 5.50 μg/kg, which were lower than the European Union maximum residue limits for pesticide residues in cereal-based baby foods.

Rapid and sensitive quantitation of zearalenone in food and feed by lateral flow immunoassay

A lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) for rapid and sensitive quantitation of zearalenone (ZEN) in food and feed stuffs was developed, based on the availability of a new highly sensitive anti-ZEN monoclonal antibody. Compared to previously reported LFA, the established method allows quantitative determination of ZEN within the desirable dynamic range of 1–50 ng mL−1, corresponding to the recorded color intensity (CI) values of 65–9, with an IC50 value of 15 ng mL−1. The developed approach was then applied to a sample collection of thirty two cereal-based baby food, maize, wheat and feed samples, revealing that seven positive samples contained ZEN at concentrations ranging from 20 to 94 μg kg−1. The accuracy of the obtained results was confirmed by in-parallel LC–MS/MS analyses. The described assay format is capable of simple, rapid, cost-effective and robust on-site screening or remote quantitative analysis for ZEN, fulfilling the currently strictest regulation requirements for ZEN monitoring worldwide.

Exposure assessment to ochratoxin A in Catalonia (Spain) based on the consumption of cereals, nuts, coffee, wine, and beer

Ochratoxin A (OTA) was analysed in composite samples of cereal-based baby foods, beer, breakfast cereals (corn- and rice and wheat-based), loaf bread, peanuts and pistachios. Foodstuffs were collected in hypermarkets and supermarkets from 12 cities in the Spanish region of Catalonia, and composite samples were prepared for analysis involving liquid–liquid extraction, followed by immunoaffinity column clean-up and HPLC with fluorescence detection. Consumption data for the selected foodstuffs were collected by means of a food-frequency questionnaire. The studied population was grouped by age in infants, children, adolescents and adults; and exposure to OTA through the specified foodstuffs, and through wine and coffee, was assessed. Exposure assessment was done through deterministic and probabilistic modelling of the contamination and consumption data. OTA occurrence and mean of positive samples (ng g−1 or ng ml−1, for beer) were the following: 8.7% and 0.233 in baby foods; 88.7% and 0.022 in beer; 2.8% and 0.728 in corn-based breakfast cereals; 25% and 0.293 in wheat-based breakfast cereals; 12.9% and 0.283 in loaf bread; 41.7% and 0.241 in peanuts; and 2.9% and 0.228 in pistachios. The median estimated daily intake of OTA through the foodstuffs by each age group were below the latest provisional tolerable daily intakes (PTDIs) of 17 and 14 ng kg−1 bw day−1 recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2006 and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in 2007, respectively, ranging from 1% and 2% of those values in adolescents and children, to 3% and 11% in adults and infants.

Occurrence of ochratoxin A in cereal-derived food products commonly consumed in Turkey

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that can be found in several food commodities including cereals, wine, coffee, cacao, spices or dried fruits, resulting in chronic human exposure. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of OTA in widely consumed cereal-derived products commercialized in Turkey. A total of 142 samples were collected from different supermarkets and traditional bazaars in Istanbul during 2008–2010 years. The analytical methods used in our study involved the liquid/liquid extraction of OTA, immunoaffinity clean-up and high performance liquid chromatography determination with fluorescence detection. The frequencies of OTA contamination were 21.62%, 19.05% and 55.95% and the mean concentrations of positive samples were 0.32 μg/kg, 0.14 μg/kg, 0.41 μg/kg for breakfast cereals, cereal-based baby foods and tarhana samples, respectively. Our findings show that contamination levels of OTA in all cereal-derived products were lower than the permitted level by European Commission Regulation.

Bioaccessibility of Deoxynivalenol and its natural co-occurrence with Ochratoxin A and Aflatoxin B1 in Italian commercial pasta

Cereals products for direct human consumption are rarely contaminated by moulds, unlike raw materials, which are often infected, either in the field or during storage.In this study, 27 samples of dried pasta characterised by size, packaging and marketing intended for young children consumption were collected and analysed by liquid chromatography (LC) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for Deoxynivalenol (DON), Ochratoxin A (OTA) and Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) determination. The samples that showed the highest amounts of one of the mycotoxins were cooked for 10min, digested with an in vitro gastrointestinal protocol and bioaccessibility values were calculated. Seven of the 27 samples exceeded from 120% to 225% the legal limit of 200μg/kg for DON fixed for processed cereal-based baby foods by an European Regulation; all the collected samples were under the OTA legal limit (0.05μg/kg) fixed by the European Regulation and no sample was contaminated by AFB1 over the instrumental limit of detection of 0.10μg/kg. The mean value of gastric bioaccessibility verified for the DON resulted of 23.1%, whereas mean duodenal bioaccessibility was 12.1%.

Determination of deoxynivalenol in infant cereal by immunoaffinity column cleanup and high-pressure liquid chromatography-UV detection.

The presence of deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereal-based baby food, a primary source of the first solid food for infants, was studied in order to develop a method to detect its presence at low concentrations. DON, produced primarily by Fusarium graminearum, is commonly isolated from grains and feed around the world and affects both animal and human health, producing diarrhea, vomiting, gastrointestinal inflammation, and immunomodulation. An aqueous extract of infant cereal was cleaned by means of an immunoaffinity chromatography column. After the eluate was evaporated and redissolved, DON was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography-UV. The level of quantification for DON was 10 ppb for three types of infant cereal (mixed, barley, and oatmeal); the level of detection was 5 ppb. The protocol we have developed can measure DON between 10 to 500 ppb. An advisory level of 1 ppm for wheat products has been established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; however, the European Communities (EC) regulations have been set at 200 ppb for cereal-based foods for infants. Only 1 of 52 samples of barley-, mixed-, or oat-based infant cereal purchased in 2008 and 2009 in the United States exceeded the European standard.

Ochratoxin A in cereal-derived products in Turkey: Occurrence and exposure assessment

Eighty-three samples of cereal-derived products including 24 breakfast cereals, 24 cereal-based baby foods and 35 beers purchased from supermarkets and small shops of Adana in Turkey were analysed for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) using immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up and high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC–FD). The average OTA recoveries from spiked breakfast cereal and cereal-based baby food and beers samples were in the range of 79.33–83.86%, 72.93–80.34% and 76.47–83.11%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSD r) of recoveries for breakfast cereals, cereal-based baby foods and beers were 1.1–3.39%, 2.56–8.37% and 5.73–13.61%, respectively. OTA was detected in 38% of breakfast cereals, in 17% of cereal-based baby food and in 14% of beer samples. OTA levels ranged from 0.172 to 1.84, from 0.122 to 0.374 and from 0.012 to 0.045 ng ml −1, respectively. All cereal-derived products examined contained OTA at concentrations very much lower below the limit recommended by European Commission Regulation. The results of this study suggest that cereal-derived products such as breakfast cereals, cereal-based baby foods and beer consumed in Turkey presents no risk by human exposure to OTA through their consumption.

Effect of storage conditions on furosine formation in milk–cereal based baby foods

The effect of storage during 9 months at 25, 30 and 37 °C on furosine formation in three milk–cereal based baby foods was studied to evaluate development of the Maillard reaction. Furosine was measured by HPLC-UV. Immediately after the manufacturing process, furosine contents were 310–340 mg/100 g protein and at the 9th storage month were 426–603 mg/100 g protein. Storage time and temperature have a significant increase ( p < 0.05) of furosine content during storage. Furosine contents were higher in sample containing honey than in those without honey. Interactions ( p < 0.05) between storage time and temperature or type of sample were found. A predictive model equation of the evolution of furosine during storage explaining 80% of the variability in furosine content was obtained. The blockage of lysine through storage calculated using the furosine and total lysine provided values ranged from 9.5% to 18.1% for analysed baby foods.

DISINFECTION OF Aspergillus ochraceus AND INACTIVATION OF OCHRATOXIN A IN CREAL – BASED BABY FOOD USING GAMMA RADIATION

Ochratoxin A is a typical cereal contaminant with strong nephrotoxic activity. Gamma irradiation was used as a technique of food preservation to disinfect the cereal – based baby food of Aspergillus ochraceus, as well as inactivation of ochratoxin A. Unirradiated samples of cereal-based baby food were spiked with A.ochraceus and incubated for 30 days, the fungus could grown reaching to mean counts of 2.3 I 107 (CFU/g) and produced ochratoxin A in mean amounts of 86 (ppb) through the incubation period. At a radiation dose of 5 (K Gy), the growth of A.ochraceus and the subsequent ochratoxin A production in cereal – babsed baby food were completely inhibited. The results of detoxification trial revealed that destruction of ochratoxin A by gamma irradiation doses had already begun at 5 (KGy). A radiation dose of 10 (KGy), controlled the occurrence of ochratoxin A in cereal – based baby food only by 23%.

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of pesticide residues in foods by tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry with polarity switching

An ultra-performance liquid chromatographic (UPLC) electrospray ionisation tandem quadrupole mass spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of 52 pesticides in cereal-based baby foods, oranges and potatoes. The fast polarity switching capability of the mass spectrometer used enabled the determination of 44 of the compounds in the positive ionisation mode and 8 of the compounds in the negative ionisation mode in a single run. Prior to analysis, co-extractives were removed from acetonitrile extracts using dispersive solid-phase extraction with primary secondary amine (50 mg). The UPLC method separates all of the pesticides, resolves structural isomers (e.g. butocarboxim sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfoxide) and has a short (7 min) cycle time. Extracts spiked with pesticides at 0.10 and 0.01 mg kg −1 yielded average recoveries in the range of 66–124% with relative standard deviations less than 19% for the majority of the analytes.

Effect of grain storage and processing on chlorpyrifos-methyl and pirimiphos-methyl residues in post-harvest-treated wheat with regard to baby food safety requirements

A study was undertaken to assess the effects of storage intervals and of milling procedures on the dissipation of chlorpyrifos-methyl and pirimiphos-methyl residues in post-harvest-treated wheat grain and to obtain scientific data on the compliance of the processed products with safety requirements concerning baby foods. The insecticide formulations were applied on stored wheat at recommended rates (20 ml t−1). The initial concentration levels in whole grain were determined in samples taken 1 h after treatment. The dissipation of residues and their distribution in different fractions of the milled grain were studied after various storage intervals, from 7 to 270 days after treatment. Samples of treated grain were milled in a fractionating laboratory mill and eight fractions — bran, semolina, three types of groats and three types of flour — were collected and analysed for pesticide residues. The residues were determined by an analytical method based on acetone extraction, graphitized carbon clean-up and GC-ECD, respectively, and GC-NPD determination of residues. The limits of determination of both pesticides were 0.005 mg kg−1, which is high enough for enforcement of the European Commission Directive that established a maximum residue level of 0.01 mg kg−1 for any pesticide in cereal-based baby food. The results showed that the pesticides chlorpyrifos-methyl and pirimiphos-methyl applied post-harvest on wheat as grain protectants were distinguished by relatively low rates of degradation in the grain under practical storage conditions. Milling did not significantly reduce the bulk of the chemicals but resulted in the distribution of residues in various processed products. The main part of the insecticides deposited on the grain remained in the bran and partly in semolina fractions. After 270 days of treatment, the residues of chlorpyrifos-methyl were within the range 0.8–2.1 mg kg−1 and of pirimiphos-methyl — between 0.6 and 3.7 mg kg−1 in the various types of flour.

Improved Method for the Determination of Hydroxymethylfurfural in Baby Foods Using Liquid Chromatography−Mass Spectrometry

An improved analytical method for the rapid, reliable, and sensitive determination of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in baby foods is described. It entailed aqueous extraction from food matrix with simultaneous clarification using Carrez I and II reagents, solid-phase extraction cleanup using Oasis HLB, and analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A narrow-bore column allowed fast chromatographic separation with good resolution of HMF and matrix coextractives. In positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization conditions, precursor and compound-specific ions were sensitively detected in selected ion monitoring mode. Sample preparation with efficient cleanup followed by fast chromatographic analysis allowed the analysis to be completed in <20 min. Recovery ranged between 91.8 and 94.7% for spiking levels of 0.25, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/kg HMF in cereal-based baby foods. The method was shown to be successful when using liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet detection at 285 nm.

Comparison of ultra-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of priority pesticides in baby foods by tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry

Determination of 16 priority pesticides and transformation products specified in the EU Baby Food Directive 2003/13/EC has been compared using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Prior to analysis, co-extractives were removed from acetonitrile extracts using dispersive solid-phase extraction (SPE) with primary secondary amine (50 mg). Extracts spiked with pesticides at 1 μg kg −1 yielded average recoveries in the range 85–119%, with relative standard deviations less than 17%. The HPLC–MS/MS and UPLC–MS/MS multi-residue methods developed are simple, rapid and suitable for the quantification and confirmation of the 16 priority pesticides in fruit-, potato- and cereal-based baby food at 1 μg kg −1. The major advantages of UPLC, using 1.7 μm particles, over HPLC are the speed of analysis, the narrower peaks (giving increased signal-to-noise ratio) and improved confirmation for the targeted pesticides in the analyses of baby foods.

Study on ochratoxin A in cereal-derived products from Spain

A study on ochratoxin A (OTA) in cereal-derived products was carried out. Cereal-based baby foods, breakfast cereals and beers were analyzed for mycotoxin OTA using an in-house developed high-performance liquid-chromatographic method. OTA was detected in 19 of the 21 samples of breakfast cereals (limit of detection 0.066 μg/kg), in 14 of the 20 samples of cereal-based baby foods (limit of detection 0.035 μg/kg) and in 24 of the 31 samples of beer (limit of detection 0.012 μg/l). The mean concentrations of OTA found were the following: 0.265 μg/kg in breakfast cereals, 0.187 μg/kg in cereal-based baby food and 0.044 μg/l in beer. The influence of different factors, such as the fibre content in breakfast cereals, type of cereals used in cereal-based baby food and alcohol content in beer, on the OTA levels was studied.

Ochratoxin A in cereal-based baby foods: occurrence and safety evaluation

Ochratoxin A is a typical cereal contaminant with strong nephrotoxic activity. To estimate the quantity of ochratoxin A that can be taken in by a child in the weaning period, several samples of cereal-based baby foods were analysed. Although most samples analysed contained ochratoxin A in undetectable amounts or below the Italian legal limit of 0.5 μg kg -1, some irregular products were found. In particular, the analyses of the 119 batches (338 samples) of baby foods considered indicated that: 20 batches (16.8%) contained detectable quantities of ochratoxin A and four of these (3.4% of the total) contained ochratoxin A above the Italian permitted value. All samples coming from agricultural practices based on integrated pest management contained undetectable amounts of ochratoxin A, while ∼5% of batches coming from conventional and organic agricultural practices were above the legal limit. On the basis of the established provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), there is no significant toxicological risk for a child who occasionally consumes a formula with ochratoxin concentration slightly above the permitted level. However, stricter controls have to be applied to reject the batches containing irregular concentrations of ochratoxin A.