Baby Food Research Articles

Developing biopolymer-stabilized emulsions for improved stability and bioaccessibility of lutein

Lutein is essential for infant visual and cognitive development but has low stability and solubility. This study aimed to enhance the stability and bioaccessibility of lutein using oil-in-water emulsions stabilized with biopolymers. Commercially available octenylsuccinylated (OS) starches, including capsule TA® (CTA), HI-CAP®100 (HC), and Purity Gum® 2000 (PG), along with gum Arabic (GA) variants Ticaloid acacia Max® (TAM), TICAmulsion® 3020 (TM), and pre-hydrate gum Arabic (PHGA), were chosen as emulsifiers. By screening the effect of biopolymer concentration and oil volume fraction (Φ), emulsions stabilized with CTA, HC, or TM at 20% and 30% (w/v) concentration and 70% Φ exhibited a gel-like structure and were selected for further assessments. After a week at 25 °C, emulsions stabilized by CTA and HC showed no significant change in droplet size, while TM emulsion exhibited a 1.58-fold increase. At 45 °C, all emulsions exhibited increase in droplet size. Lutein retention is higher in CTA emulsions at both storage temperatures than free lutein. In vitro bioaccessibility of all lutein emulsions was higher than that of free lutein. These findings highlight the superior stability and bioaccessibility of the lutein emulsion stabilized by OS starch, positioning it as a promising carrier to broaden lutein applications in infant foods.

A web-based microbiological hazard identification tool for infant foods

An integrated approach to identify and assess Microbiological Hazards (MHs) and mitigate risks in infant food chains is crucial to ensure safe foods for infants and young children.A systematic procedure was developed to identify MHs in specific infant foods. This includes five major steps: 1) relevant hazard-food pairing, 2) process inactivation efficiency, 3) recontamination possibility after processing, 4) MHs growth opportunity, and 5) MHs-food association level. These steps were integrated into an online tool called the Microbiological Hazards IDentification (MiID) decision support system (DSS), targeting food companies, governmental agencies and academia users, and is accessible at https://foodmicrobiologywur.shinyapps.io/Microbial_hazards_ID/. The MiID DSS was validated in four case studies, focussing on infant formula, fruit puree, cereal-based meals, and fresh fruits, each representing distinct products and processing characteristics. The results obtained through the application of the MiID DSS, compared with identification by food safety experts, consistently identified the top MHs in these food products. This process affirms its effectiveness in systematic hazard identification.The introduction of the MiID DSS helps to structure the first steps in HACCP (hazard analysis) and in risk assessment (hazard identification) to follow a structured and well-documented procedure, balancing the risk of overlooking relevant MHs or including too many irrelevant MHs. It is a valuable addition to risk analysis/assessment in infant food chains and has the potential for future extension. This includes the incorporation of newly acquired data related to infant foods via a semi-publicly hosted platform, or it can be adapted for hazard identification in general food products using a similar framework.

Prevalence and phylogenetic traits of nitrite-producing bacteria in raw ingredients and processed baby foods: Potential sources of foodborne infant methemoglobinemia

Nitrite, which has been mainly regarded as a chemical hazard, can induce infant methemoglobinemia. As for nitrite as a product of microbial metabolism, the contribution of the oral or gut microbiome has mostly received attention, whereas the role of nitrite-producing bacteria (NPBs) in food has been less elucidated. In this study, mesophilic NPBs were isolated from food samples (n = 320) composed of raw ingredients for weaning foods (n = 160; beetroot, broccoli, carrot, lettuce, rice powder, spinach, sweet potato, and honey) and processed baby foods (n = 160; cereal snack, cheese, yogurt, powdered infant formula, sorghum syrup, vegetable fruit juice, and weaning food). The phylogenetic diversity of the NPB strains was analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. All 15 food items harbored NPBs, with a prevalence of 71.9 % and 34.4 % for the raw ingredients and processed foods, respectively. The NPBs isolated from the foods were identified as Actinomycetota (Actinomycetes), Bacteroidota (Flavobacteriia, Sphingobacteriia), Bacillota (Bacilli), or Pseudomonadota (Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria). Among the raw and processed foods, beetroot (85.0 %) and powdered infant formula (70.0 %) showed had the highest NPB prevalence (P > 0.05). Bacillota predominated in both types of food. The contamination source of Pseudomonadota, which was another major phylum present in the raw ingredients, was presumed to be the soil and endophytes in the seeds, whereas that of Bacillota was the manufacturing equipment used with the raw ingredients. Common species for probiotics, such as Lacticaseibacillus, Leuconostoc, Enterococcus, and Bacillus, were isolated and identified as NPBs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal the taxonomical diversity and omnipresence of NPBs in food for babies. The results of this study highlight the importance of food-mediated microbiological risks of infant methemoglobinemia which are yet underrecognized.

A tiered approach of hazard-prioritization and risk-ranking for chemical hazards in food commodities: Application for selected mycotoxins

Chemical hazards in foods, especially naturally occurring food contaminants like mycotoxins, are of serious public health concern. It is important to develop a practical framework to assess and rank health risks of chemical contaminants which can be further utilized by regulatory agencies to prioritize resources for risk assessment and management. In this study, a tiered hazard-prioritization and risk-ranking approach, which included two steps: exposure-based screening and margin of exposure (MOE)-based probabilistic risk ranking; was proposed to efficiently identify and rank chemicals of health concerns. Given the exposure-based hazard prioritization, chemicals with negligible or low health risks were first excluded. The remaining chemicals, imposing a higher health risk, were then ranked to facilitate risk-based decision making. The proposed approach was applied to identify and rank the mycotoxins with substantial health concerns in food commodities randomly sampled in China. A total of 19 mycotoxins were analyzed in 783 food commodities, including infant cookie, noodle, rice flour samples, wheat flour, millet, and rice. Results showed that the mycotoxins in infant foods with the highest health risk were Tenuazonic acid, Deoxynivalenol, and Enniatin B1, but as indicated by the probabilistic MOE estimation, the risks were still in the acceptable range and generally lower than the risks imposed by trace elements (e.g., Arsenic and Cadmium). The health risks of the other 16 mycotoxins were negligible mainly due to their low exposure levels. This study demonstrated that the proposed tiered approach was an efficient and effective tool to quantify and prioritize health risks in support of human health risk management.

Dietary intake of methylmercury by 0-5 years children using the duplicate diet method in Japan.

The developing brains are sensitive to methylmercury (MeHg). However, the exposure to MeHg in baby foods and toddler meals remains unknown. This study aimed to determine MeHg intake from baby food or toddler meals, and to investigate the relationship with child hair total mercury (THg). A total of 3 days of 24-hour dietary diet and hair samples were collected from 260 consenting children aged 0-5 years. We measured the concentrations of THg and MeHg in the diet and THg in the hair. The results of measuring THg were below both the method detection and method quantification limits or either of both in powdered milk (93.8%), 5-6 months (53.3%), and 7-8 months (39.5%). The median daily THg intake was 20.3 (95% confidence interval 0.72-232.5) ng/kgbw. MeHg was not detected in 213 samples with dietary THg concentrations below 1 ng/g. The MeHg concentration with THg concentrations of 1 ng/g or higher was 1.70 (0.87-6.21) ng/g, and MeHg percentage in THg was 90.0%. To estimate MeHg intake, we multiplied the THg concentration by 90.0%, resulting in an estimated MeHg intake of 18.3 (0.65-209.2) ng/kgbw/day. The THg in children's hair was 1.05 (0.31-3.96) ppm, and a weak positive correlation was observed between hair THg and dietary MeHg (r = 0.170). This study highlights the accurate estimation of MeHg intake in children using a duplicate method. Japanese children consume fish, the MeHg intakes exceeded the reference dose and/or provisional tolerable weekly intake in several children. Further discussion based on epidemiological data is required.

Factors Supporting Breastfeeding among Working Women in the Workplace: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

Breast milk is the best food for babies, containing all the energy, nutrients, and antibodies needed to protect the body from disease. Although the WHO recommends breastfeeding for only 6 months, working women have less potential to breastfeed exclusively than non-working. This is because most working women stop breastfeeding when returning to work after maternity leave. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors that support breastfeeding in the workplace. This study applied systematic review using the PRISMA method and the data were obtained from PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus searches. The literature review used full-text published from 2014 to 2024 and qualitative original articles that were not from review. A qualitative study checklist was carried out using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool obtained 14 articles. The results showed that both internal and external factors played a significant role in exclusive breastfeeding. These included maternal determination, previous breastfeeding experience, proper knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding, as well as family, and partner support. External factors included workplace policies, such as maternity leave, availability, accessibility of safe, comfortable lactation facilities, on-site daycare, breastfeeding education, and lactation counseling. Additional external support from colleagues, employers, healthcare staff, and caregivers also played a significant role in exclusive breastfeeding. The success of breastfeeding among working women was significantly influenced by internal factors and immediate support system, as well as external workplace factors, policies, and support from colleagues and superior.

Exposure to Dietary Glycidyl and 3-MCPD Fatty Acid Esters and Associated Burden of Cancer in Selected Asian and European Countries: A Review and Data Synthesis.

This study evaluated the health implications and oncological impact of consuming glycidyl esters (GE) and 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol esters (3-MCPDE) in selected Asian and European populations. Data on dietary GE and 3-MCPDE were compiled from 10 studies conducted in China, Taiwan, Poland, and Spain, identified through a systematic search in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases from 2012 to 2022. Studies on food supplements and analytical methods were excluded from the analysis. Health metrics for these nations, spanning 2015 to 2019, were sourced from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, among others. A Monte Carlo Simulation was employed for data analysis. The results showed that "grains and grain products" was the most consumed food category (260.45-395.35 g/day), whereas "food for infants and children" was the least consumed (0.01-0.09 g/day). Additionally, "fats from animal or plant origin" had the highest contamination levels. While 3-MCPDE exposures remained within safe limits, median GE exposure correlated with an incidence of colon cancer ranging from 3.66 × 10-8 to 0.744%, lung cancer from 0.00256 to 0.287%, and breast cancer from 0.0262 to 2.42% within the study areas. This translated to a total cancer burden of 6.69 to 1020 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 100 000 individuals. The population in China recorded the highest DALY rate (1,020), followed by Spain (30.2), Poland (19.7), and Taiwan (6.69). Projections suggest an uptick in GE-related cancer cases and associated burdens in the coming decades attributed to demographic shifts, ageing populations, and dietary changes. The study underscores the urgency of mitigating GE and 3-MCPDE food contamination, bolstering public health awareness, and establishing safety guidelines.

Prevalence, variety, and iron and zinc content of commercial infant and toddler foods sold in the United States that contain meat.

Iron and zinc are important nutrients during infancy, particularly for infants exclusively fed human milk at the beginning of complementary feeding (CF) from 6-12 months. The 1st Foods Study examined the ingredients and nutrient contents of commercially-available infant and toddler foods (ITFs) that were sold in the US and contained meat. Company websites (n = 22) were used to create a database of commercial ITFs (n = 165) available for purchase in the US and contained at least one meat (e.g., beef, chicken, pork). Single ingredient and ready-to-serve meals (for ages ≤ 9 months) and ready-to-serve meals (for ages 10+ months) were categorized as infant and toddler products, respectively. For each product, the ingredient list, intended age/stage, serving size (g), energy (kcal), protein (g), iron (mg), and zinc (mg) per serving were recorded from product labels. Nutrient amount/100 g was calculated for each product and medians and inter-quartile ranges were calculated and compared (1) by intended age/stage of the product and (2) according to meat type. In general, toddler products contained more iron than infant products. Within infant products (n = 65), more iron was found in products containing beef relative to products with other meats, which were similar in iron content. Within toddler products (n = 38), more iron was found in products containing seafood, followed by beef, turkey, and pork. Slightly less iron was found in products with chicken. Zinc content was infrequently reported (n = 17 total products). Because many of the products assessed contained low amounts of iron and zinc, meeting the current infant and toddler requirements for iron and zinc during the CF period may be challenging if commercial ITFs containing meat are the primary source of these nutrients.

Rapid Screening of 300 Pesticide Residues in Commercially Available Vegetable‐, Fruit‐, and Cereal‐Based Baby Foods by Using Amino‐Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with QuEChERS and Gas Chromatography‐Electrostatic Field Orbitrap High‐Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Rapid Screening of 300 Pesticide Residues in Commercially Available Vegetable‐, Fruit‐, and Cereal‐Based Baby Foods by Using Amino‐Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with QuEChERS and Gas Chromatography‐Electrostatic Field Orbitrap High‐Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Investigation of heavy metal concentrations and determination of estimated daily intake and health risk index infant formula and baby foods in Zahedan in 2020

Investigation of heavy metal concentrations and determination of estimated daily intake and health risk index infant formula and baby foods in Zahedan in 2020

Hplc investigation of hidden danger deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) in baby foods from grain sources in türkiye

Hplc investigation of hidden danger deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) in baby foods from grain sources in türkiye

Práticas irregulares em drogarias na oferta de produtos para crianças menores de três anos

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the compliance with the commercialization of children's products included in the Brazilian Code of Marketing of Infant and Toddlers Food and Childcare-Related Products (NBCAL) in drugstores in Uberlândia/MG. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 143 drugstores that sold infant products: infant formula (IF), follow-up IF, nipples, teats, pacifiers and nipple shields; FI for young children, transition foods and cereal-based foods, fluid or powdered milk, modified/similar milks of plant origin and dairy compounds. The location of drugstores in the five geographic sectors was performed by geoprocessing. The data collected were: types of promotion and types of drugstore administration (drugstore chains/drugstores with independent administration). Irregular commercial promotion was expressed as absolute and relative frequencies. Results: Irregular commercial promotion was found in 11.7% of nipples, pacifiers and bottles, in 10.0% of IF and follow-up formula, in 9.5% of IF for young children, in 11.1% fluid or powdered milk, in 25.0% of transition foods and cereal-based foods and in 59.1% of dairy compounds. In commercial drugstore chains, the presence of promotion for dairy (81.8 vs. 28.6%, respectively) was higher than in drugstores with independent administration. The opposite ocurred for fluid or powdered milk, modified and similar milks of plant origin. The downtown and eastern sectors had the highest percentages of promotions (26%). Conclusions: NBCAL violations still occur in drugstores, mainly in the sale of young children's foods and in the commercial network drugstores.

Nitrate, sodium and macronutrients in transition foods for infants and young children of the Artiype baby food of vegetables with meats

Nitrate, sodium and macronutrients in transition foods for infants and young children of the Artiype baby food of vegetables with meats

The effect of iron absorption in ferrous gluconate form from enriched rice flour using an in vitro digestion model and a Caco-2 cell model.

Iron deficiency can cause serious diseases in infants and young children such as indigestion, anemia, and nervous system dysplasia. Consumption of high-iron rice flour can prevent iron deficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential application of ferrous gluconate as an iron source in high-iron rice flour used as a type of accessory food for infants and young children. In this study, the differences in iron absorption ability between ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate in rice flour with the same ingredients in both high and low phytic acid systems were evaluated. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the bioaccessibility/bioavailability between ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate at both low and high phytic acid contents. In low phytic acid and high phytic acid systems, the iron absorption rate of ferrous gluconate is 11.53% and 13.45% higher than that of ferrous fumarate, respectively (p < 0.05). In summary, the iron absorption rate of ferrous gluconate was higher than that of ferrous fumarate in the rice flour system. Additionally, the low phytic acid environment is more conducive to iron uptake and utilization. Therefore, ferrous gluconate can be used as an alternative source of iron in accessory foods for infants and young children.

Comparative characteristics of different methods for electrophoretic determination of mono- and disaccarides using derivatization

The following variants of electrophoretic determination of sugars with prior derivatization are considered in the article: reductive amination using p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester (ABEE) and condensation with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP). Derivatization products were separated using capillary electrophoresis in both zone and micellar modes, and comparative estimate characteristics were obtained. The best efficiency (ca. 650 thousand theoretical plates), selectivity (2.1–2.4), and LOD (0.8–2.9 μg/mL) was observed for the separation of reductive amination products using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Optimization of derivatization conditions was performed for the reductive amination using the central composite experiment design. Additionally, LOD was lowered by the sample intracapillary concentration in sweeping mode, and sample enhancement factors (SEF) of 13–19 were achieved. A proof-of-concept possibility of the intracapillary reductive amination ensuring electrophoretic mobility of the derivatization reagent using detergent micelles as carrying agents was demonstrated. Both derivatization methods were applied for the analysis of baby food.

The Development of the E-Commerce Market in Poland in the Conditions of Intensification of Migration Processes

The impact of the war in Ukraine and migration has affected the e-commerce markets of the recipient countries, presenting both opportunities, in the form of an increased consumer base, and challenges, such as the lack of a clear development vision. This paper aims to investigate the influence of migration processes on the development of e-commerce in Poland and examine the feasibility of using forecasting methods by e-commerce companies under these conditions for future activity planning. To fulfill the research objective, the following tasks were addressed: investigating the current state of e-commerce development influenced by migration processes; exploring modern migration processes and their impact on global economies; assessing the impact of migration from Ukraine on the Polish market; and analyzing a Polish online store to develop a model for forecasting data and planning activities under the influence of migration processes. To achieve this goal, three models were constructed: a multiple regression model to assess the level of migration processes’ influence on e-commerce; a neural network to forecast sales for a Polish e-commerce store; and cluster analysis to identify clusters of goods most affected by migration processes. The study analyzed the nuances of modern migration processes and assessed the reverse effect of migration as a driver of e-commerce development. Migration stimulates e-commerce by altering consumer behavior and logistics routes, increasing exports and imports, and fostering the spread of digital entrepreneurship. Using data from a Polish online store, the study modeled the impact of market changes on the company’s operations and identified the most significant factors. Thus, the analysis explored the impact of migration on e-business in Poland through constructed models. Regression analysis revealed that migration processes have contributed to the development of the Polish online store’s sales, thanks to the increase in migrant consumers and rising price levels. A neural network was developed with machine learning, incorporating macroeconomic and demographic factors into its forecasting typology. Cluster analysis was employed to examine the online store’s assortment, identifying clusters by sales volume and migrants’ influence. The analysis determined that, following the onset of the migration movement, categories experiencing a surge in demand from refugees, such as baby food products, appliances, telephones, furniture, and communication devices, saw the most significant growth.

Enterococcus contamination of infant foods and implications for exposure to foodborne pathogens in peri-urban neighbourhoods of Kisumu, Kenya.

We collected infant food samples from 714 households in Kisumu, Kenya, and estimated the prevalence and concentration of Enterococcus, an indicator of food hygiene conditions. In a subset of 212 households, we quantified the change in concentration in stored food between a morning and afternoon feeding time. In addition, household socioeconomic characteristics and hygiene practices of the caregivers were documented. The prevalence of Enterococcus in infant foods was 50% (95% confidence interval: 46.1 - 53.4), and the mean log10 colony-forming units (CFUs) was 1.1 (SD + 1.4). No risk factors were significantly associated with the prevalence and concentration of Enterococcus in infant foods. The mean log10 CFU of Enterococcus concentration was 0.47 in the morning and 0.73 in the afternoon foods with a 0.64 log10 mean increase in matched samples during storage. Although no factors were statistically associated with the prevalence and the concentration of Enterococcus in infant foods, household flooring type was significantly associated with an increase in concentration during storage, with finished floors leading to 1.5 times higher odds of concentration increase compared to unfinished floors. Our study revealed high prevalence but low concentration of Enterococcus in infant food in low-income Kisumu households, although concentrations increased during storage implying potential increases in risk of exposure to foodborne pathogens over a day. Further studies aiming at investigating contamination of infant foods with pathogenic organisms and identifying effective mitigation measures are required to ensure infant food safety.

Modulation of the enzyme-like activity of CuAsp nanozyme by gallic acid and the selective detection of bisphenol A in infant food packaging.

The activity modulation of nanozymes with multi-enzymatic activities has both opportunities and challenges in practical applications. In this study, we found firstly that gallic acid erosion had a significant inhibitory effect on the peroxidase-catalyzed colorimetric reaction process of copper aspartate nanozyme prepared based on aspartic acid and copper (CuAsp), and the laccase-like catalytic activity remained almost unchanged. A sensing strategy for bisphenol A was then developed based on the laccase-like activity of GA-CuAsp synthesized by gallic acid (GA) acid erosion of CuAsp, which may have less interference due to the peroxidase-like activity. The developed sensing strategy had good selectivity and interference resistant ability, with a detection limit of 0.75 μmol L-1. In addition, the method was successfully applied to detecting BPA in plastic bottled drinking water samples and infant food packaging.

Hubungan Pengetahuan, Pekerjaan, dan Dukungan Keluarga Terhadap Kegagalan ASI Ekslusif Di UPTD Puskesmas Pengaringan Kabupaten Oku

Breast milk is the best food for babies. It cannot be replaced with other foods and no food can replace breast milk. The converage of breast feeding babies in OKU Regency in 2018 was 60,7%. in pengaringan primary health care center area in 2021 it was recorded that out of 168 babies there wewe 146 babies who failed to have exclusive breastfeeding (86,9%). the objective of the of implementing exclusive breastfeeding in the UPTD area of pengaringan primary health care center, semidang Aji district, OKU Regency in 2021. this study was quantitative with a cross-sectional design. The population of the study was all mothers who had babies aged more than 6 months, who visited the UPTD Primary health care center of pengaringan, semindang aji sitrict, OKU Regency in february 2022. the sampel of the study was 30 a quistionnaire. The data were analyzed by means of chi -square test formula. The results of with the failure of exclusive breastfeeding with the value of variable of knowledge (p-0.004) and family support (p-0,013). there was no significant relationship between work and exclusive breastfeeding failure with p-value of 0.402. it is expected that the primary health care center be able to increase health counseling related to exclusive breastg=feeding and put up more health information such as posters about exclusive breastfeeding.

COMPARISON OF BODY WEIGTH INFANTS AGED 6 TO 12 MONTHS IN EXCLUSIVE AND NON-EXCLUSIVE BREASFEEDING

Background: Breast milk is an adequate food for babies in the process of growth and development because its content such as nutrients and protective factors play a role increasing the speed of metabolism and growth thus as to reduce infant morbidity and mortality. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the body weight of infants aged 6-12 months between exclusive and non-exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: The method used that descriptive-comparative research design. Samples in the study were taken using the Total Sampling method. It was 70 respondents divided into two groups namely exclusive breastfeeding and non-exclusive breastfeeding. The data were taken using a Kartu Menuju Sehat (KMS, Standard Growth Charts) and analyzed using the Chi-Square test with a meaning level of 5% (α=0.05). Result: There were 21 (60%) infants with normal body weight that received exclusive breastfeeding and 19 (54.2%) infants with more body weight that received non-exclusive breastfeeding. The results of the hypothesis test using Chi-Square obtained a p-value of 0.006 (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The early days of life are very important for infants regarding to their nutrition. Breastfeeding mother need support from the family thus the infants could get exclusive breastfeeding.