Infant Formula Samples Research Articles

Organophosphate esters and their diester metabolites in infant formulas and baby supplementary foods collected in Beijing, China: Occurrence and the implications for infant exposure

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) have been extensively used as flame retardants and/or plasticizers and they found to be ubiquitous in various environmental matrices along with the gradual phase-out of brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Moreover, their main metabolites, organophosphate di-esters (di-OPEs), were also frequently detected. However, few studies focused on the occurrence of OPEs and di-OPEs in foods. In this study, fourteen OPEs and five di-OPEs were measured in infant formula and baby supplementary food (BSF) collected in Beijing, China. Most OPEs and di-OPEs presented high detection frequencies, which indicated their ubiquity in baby foods. The concentrations of ∑14OPEs in the 75 infant formula samples ranged from 0.79 to 159 ng/g, with a median of 23.2 ng/g, and in which triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) was the most abundant compound. The concentrations of ∑14OPEs in the 32 BSF samples were 4.42–115 ng/g (median: 19.5 ng/g), and tri(3-chloropropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) was predominant. Moreover, no significant difference was observed between OPE levels in infant formula and BSF. The median concentrations of Σ5di-OPEs in infant formula and BSF were 3.39 and 5.43 ng/g, respectively. However, no significantly correlation was observed between concentrations of di-OPEs and their parent compounds, which indicated they have different sources. The median estimated dietary intakes (EDIs) of the ∑14OPEs were from 165 to 383 ng/kg bodyweight (bw)/day for infants via infant formula feeding, and were from 429 to 470 ng/kg bw/day via BSF feeding. A comparison to corresponding reference dose (RfD) suggested that dietary intakes of OPEs to Beijing infants via formula/BSF consumption were still unable to cause significant health concerns. However, EDIs of OPEs for infants were found to be significantly higher than that for Chinese adults, and dietary intake might be the predominant OPE intake pathway for infants. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate OPEs and their metabolites in baby foods.

Chlorate and perchlorate residues in food products on the Danish market

ABSTRACT Upon the European commission’s request in 2013, Denmark initiated a survey of the levels of chlorate and perchlorate in agriculture products from the Danish market over a period of 4 years from 2014 to 2017. The results of the survey were used to guide decision making with a view to setting maximum levels for intra-Union trade in 2013 and reviewing and updating the levels from 2020. The results of the Danish survey and the employed analytical method are documented in this paper. In addition to the 89 domestic samples, 30 samples of foreign origin were analysed for chlorate and perchlorate, together with ten samples of baby food and seven samples of infant formula collected from the Danish market. Samples were extracted using the Quick Polar Pesticides extraction method (QuPPe) and analysed on a triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS system. The levels of both chlorate and perchlorate detected in samples originating from Denmark were lower than the current MRLs except for a single sample of lettuce. Moreover, the percentage of foreign samples that were positive for chlorate and perchlorate residues was higher than the percentage of domestic samples. The reason for the generally low levels and low frequency of chlorate and perchlorate in Danish products is most likely linked to the fact that the water supply in Denmark is 100% unchlorinated ground water. The present study shows that residues of perchlorate and chlorate are found in Danish food products at a relatively low frequency and that the levels found are below the EU’s MRLs implemented in 2020.

UV-VIS spectrophotometric-assisted chemometric calibration models for simultaneous determination of thiamine and pyridoxine vitamins in powdered infant formula

Thiamine and pyridoxine, which are hydrophilic B vitamins, are compounds that play an important role in many biochemical events for the health of infants and adults. Recently, because of the complexity of food and pharmaceutical composition, chemometric models are preferred to obtain relevant information from multivariate measured data. The aim of this study was to determine the simultaneous quantitative analysis of thiamine and pyridoxine in powdered infant formula and pharmaceutical formulations by the UV-visible spectrophotometric method coupled with chemometric calibration models (partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR)). These vitamins were extracted by addition of trichloroacetic acid (precipitation of proteins) after samples of powdered infant formula was dissolved in Milli-Q water. Factorial design was used to prepare the calibration (25 samples) and validation (8 samples) sets containing mixture of thiamine and pyridoxine within their linear range (2.5-25 μg/mL). Spectra of obtained mixtures and samples were recorded between wavelengths of 200-360 nm with the intervals Δλ=1 nm. In regression models created by using PLS and PCR algorithm, the results had acceptable recovery 98.14% for both compounds. These chemometric models predict the quantification of both, thiamine and pyridoxine in powdered infant formula samples via interpreting the UV-Vis spectrum. The average thiamine and pyridoxine contents of powdered infant formula samples were found to be 5.02±0.065 μg/g and 4.32±0.086 μg/g for PLS model and 4.98±0.078 μg/g and 4.03±0.091 μg/g for PCR model, respectively.

Triglyceride and fatty acid composition of ruminants milk, human milk, and infant formulae

In this study, triglyceride and fatty acid composition of Holstein cow milk, Jersey cow milk, yak milk, goat milk, human milk and 8 infant formulae samples were determined by UPLC-ESI-MS and GC, respectively. In general, the triglyceride and fatty acid composition of various milk samples were specific. Compared with infant formulae, human milk contained more triglycerides composed of unsaturated fatty acids, for example 18:0/18:1/18:2, 15:0/18:1/18:1, 17:0/18:2/18:2. The triglyceride, C52:2 in human milk consisted of more 16:0/18:1/18:1 than in infant formulae. In addition, the proportion of triglyceride 18:1/18:1/18:1 in infant formulae differed greatly among brands, ranging from 0 % to 38.56 %. Triglyceride 4:0/18:0/18:1 was present in bovine milk (> 1 %) but not detected in goat milk. The triglycerides, 12:0/12:0/12:0, 6:0/14:0/18:0, 12:0/14:0/14:0, 10:0/14:0/18;0, and 14:0/18:0/18:0 were present in goat milk (> 1 %), which were different from bovine milk samples. The triglycerides 16:0/16:0/24:0, 16:0/18:0/22:0, 16:0/16:0/23:0, and 16:0/18:0/21:0 contained long chain FAs in yak milk. In addition, the ratio of omega-3 PUFA to omega-6 PUFA in yak milk was about 1–2, which is a characteristic of the fatty acid profile of yak milk. This study could provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing the composition of dairy products.

An assessment of heavy metal level in infant formula on the market in Turkey and the hazard index

Heavy metals are compounds which exist in many food products that we consume daily, and they show a toxic effect in certain concentrations. In this study, firstly, lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury levels in 36 samples of infant formula were determined with ICP-MS. Then, infant formula consumption data of 268 babies within the age range of 0–24 months were acquired with 24 h dietary recall method. Lastly, the estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) were calculated. Average Pb, Cd, As and Hg levels of infant formula were determined to be 0.025, 0.002, 0.021 and 0.0001 mg/kg, respectively. Average exposures of As, Cd, Hg and Pb for all age groups were calculated as 0.29, 0.03, 0.001 and 0.04 μg/kg bw/day, respectively. According to the HI values, the findings indicate potential health concerns for babies within the age range of 0–6 months.

Innovative application of postbiotics, parabiotics and encapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum RM1 and Lactobacillus paracasei KC39 for detoxification of aflatoxin M1 in milk powder.

This study aimed to evaluate aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) level in milk powder and infant milk formulae, in addition to applying innovative methods for AFM1 & AFB1 detoxification. Fifty random samples of milk powder and infant formulae (25 of each) were collected from the Egyptian markets for assessing AFM1 level using ELISA technique. Bioactive components comprising cell free supernatants (postbiotic), acid-dead cells (parabiotic) and the encapsulated-cells of Lactobacillus plantarum RM1 and Lactobacillus paracasei KC39 were evaluated for their antifungal activity against toxigenic mold strains and their impact on AFB1 and AFM1 reduction in reconstituted milk powder. AFM1 concentration in unpacked milk powder was higher than that of packed samples and infant formulae, although these differences were not significant (P > 0.05). About 96.0, 29.4 and 25.0% of the tested infant formulae, unpacked, and packed milk powder were unacceptable in terms of the AFM1 limit defined by Egyptian and European standards, while all samples were in accordance with the USA/FDA standard. All tested mycotoxigenic strains were sensitive to the different treatments of the probiotics with the highest sensitivity regarding Fusarium strain with L. paracasei KC39 compared to other genera. The degradation ratios of AFM1 using the bioactives of the L. paracasei KC39 were higher than that of L. plantarum RM1 bioactives. Additionally, KC39 parabiotic manifested the best AFB1 reduction (60.56%). In conclusion, the positive and highly significant relationship (P < 0.05) between these effective biocompounds mirrors their major detoxification role which gives a safe solution for AFs contamination issues in milk and milk products.

A simple and sensitive aptasensor with rolling circle amplification for viable Cronobacter sakazakii detection in powdered infant formula

Cronobacter sakazakii is a foodborne, emerging opportunistic pathogen that causes severe bacteremia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sepsis with a mortality rate of up to 80%. In this study, we developed a simple and sensitive fluorescent turn-off aptasensor with rolling circle amplification assay for viable C. sakazakii detection in powdered infant formula. The results showed that the proposed aptasensor has good performance and specificity for detecting viable C. sakazakii in pure culture and powdered infant formula samples within 3 h. Under the optimal reaction conditions, there is a linear relationship between fluorescent intensity at 490 nm and logarithmic concentration of C. sakazakii in the range of 2.7 × 105 to 2.7 × 102 cfu/mL, with a limit of detection of 2.7 × 102 cfu/mL in pure culture. The proposed aptasensor achieved a recovery of 104 to 111% in pure culture, and 96 to 107% in spiked powdered infant formula samples. The proposed aptasensor does not require complicated DNA extraction steps or antibodies, and can be performed at 37°C, making it a convenient and sensitive strategy for C. sakazakii detection.

The contamination and estimation of dietary intake for perchlorate and chlorate in infant formulas in China

ABSTRACT The contents of perchlorate and chlorate were determined in a total of 278 samples of infant formulas marketed in China. The associated health risk via infant and young child formulas consumption for 0–36 month old children in China was also assessed. The contents of perchlorate and chlorate were measured by a validated method with LC-MS and the limit of detection (LOD) was 1.5 μg kg−1 and 3.0 μg kg−1 for perchlorate and chlorate, respectively. Perchlorate and chlorate were detected in about 85.8% (median 6.92 μg kg−1, maximum 74.20 μg kg−1) and 99.3% (median 52.80 μg kg−1, maximum 2780 μg/kg) of the samples. The exposures of infant and young children to perchlorate from formulas were lower than the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI, 0.7 μg/kg bw/day), which was established by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2015 also proposed a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 3 μg/kg bw/day for chlorate based on the mean and average concentrations. Only for infants 0–6 month at the 95th percentile did exposures exceed the TDI of 3 μg/day for chlorate. Therefore, the safety of infant and young child formulas is excellent. To our knowledge, this is the first report to assess the exposure of infant and young child formulas in China to perchlorate and chlorate.

Prevalence of Melamine and Cyanuric Acid in Powdered Dairy Products in Egypt.

This study was conducted to screen melamine and cyanuric acid in powdered dairy products, which becomes a high safety concern, as considered one of the scanty surveys in Egypt. A total of 140 samples (fifty whole milk powder, thirty samples of each; skim milk powder, powdered infant milk formula, and dried milk-cereal-based infant formula were collected from Egyptian markets and pharmacies. Samples were analyzed for the presence of melamine and cyanuric acid using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Melamine was detected in 15/50 of whole milk powder, 22/30 of skim milk powder, 20/30 of powdered infant milk formula, and 25/30 milk-cereal-based infant formula samples. Meanwhile, cyanuric acid couldn't be detected in any examined samples, as its concentration was < 0.05 mg/kg. This investigation initially proceeded in Egypt for melamine and cyanuric acid detection in milk-cereal-based infant formula and skim milk powder. It is targeted for re-attention from concerned authorities to these toxic chemicals.

An isotope dilution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for detection of melamine in milk powder

ABSTRACT Adulteration/unintentional contamination of milk with melamine could have negative health and economic implications especially in the developing countries due to insufficient laboratory support and surveillance. This paper presents an Isotope Dilution Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (ID LC-MS) method developed for detection of melamine in powdered milk. The rapid sample preparation involved dissolution of 1g of milk powder in 2.5% formic acid, precipitation of protein with acetonitrile, spiking of samples with melamine (triamine-15N3) at 200 µg L–1 and detection of intrinsic 14N-melamine molecular ratio to the spike. The isotope dilution calibration procedure was free from matrix effects, unlike other methods where the detector sensitivity can fluctuate up to several orders of magnitude. Limit of detection of the method was 13 µg kg–1, and the recovery of melamine at 50, 100, and 250 µg kg–1 was 78.7–126.3%. The method was used to determine melamine levels in 22 milk powder products (local and imported) available in Sri Lanka. Melamine was detected in all the samples (range = 0.33–0.96 mg kg–1). Full cream milk powders (both local and imported) contained melamine in the range of 0.39–0.84 mg kg–1, and various health and pregnancy formulas contained <0.5 mg kg–1 of melamine. Two imported infant formula samples contained the highest levels of melamine (0.96 and 0.94 mg kg–1). Although these melamine levels are below the regulatory limit in Sri Lanka (1 mg kg–1), a monitoring programme would ensure consumer safety.

Dietary exposure assessment to macrolide antimicrobial residues through infant formulas marketed in Brazil

ABSTRACT Macrolides are critically important antimicrobials for both human and animal health and should be prioritized in risk assessments, as inappropriate use may result in antimicrobial resistance. The antimicrobials erythromycin, oleandomycin, spiramycin, tilmicosin and tylosin were analysed in infant formula samples by HPLC-MS/MS using a validated analytical method based on a modified QuEChERS extraction. The results of the occurrence study were employed to perform a dietary exposure assessment of infants to residues. In a total of 30 analysed samples, 73% contained spiramycin residues and 27%, tilmicosin residues. Calculated daily intakes ranged from 1.47 × 10−6 to 2.71 × 10−4 mg kg−1 body weight considering all analytes, representing 0.01–0.59% of acceptable daily intakes. The results of the dietary exposure assessment were all below acceptable daily intakes, indicating low potential health concerns. However, according to Brazilian regulations, infant formulas containing residues of one or more of the investigated analytes were deemed as non-compliant.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in raw milk from different animal species and in infant formula. Occurrence and risk assessment

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widespread, persistent in the environment, and classified as global pollutants. Their presence has been confirmed in various types of food which adversely affect human health when consumed in sufficient amounts. Although milk has advantageous nutritional qualities and there are health benefits associated with its consumption, it could also contain toxic PBDEs. The aim of the study was the determination of the concentrations of ten congeners (BDE -28, −47, −49, −99, −100, −138, −153, −154, −183, and 209) in cow’s, sheep’s, and goat’s milk obtained from Polish farms and their determination in infant formula. A total of 103 samples of raw milk and infant formula were tested using an accredited high-resolution gas chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry method. PBDEs were detected in all analyzed samples, the highest concentration being found in sheep’s milk (11.9 ng g−1 fat), and cow’s milk containing the least contamination. BDE-209 makes the predominant contribution to the sum of the ten congeners, constituting at least 38%. The profiles of PBDEs were dependent on the milk type and the differences between its varieties are discussed. The highest median concentration of the sum of ten PBDEs (0.473 ng g−1 fat) was determined in infant formula, which was identified as an important source of infants’ exposure (5.48 ng kg−1 b.w. day−1 calculated based on P95 concentration). Milk is a source of PBDE in the diet; however, considered in isolation its consumption does not pose a risk to either adults’ or children’s health.

Human breast milk, infant formula, and follow-up milks comparison by electronic tongue

AbstractHuman breast milk, infant formula, and follow-up milks were tested by a commercial electronic tongue (αAstree, Alpha MOS) with the aim to determine taste diversity, since it has been recently shown that infants exposed to different tastes early in life, develop different food preference at a later age. Human milk (36 samples) were obtained from 13 lactating women, while 12 samples of infant formula and 14 samples of follow-up milk were obtained from the Croatian market and opened prior to analysis. Human breast milk samples showed a much higher diversity than both infant formulae and follow-up milks. These results suggest that breast-fed infants are exposed to a broader sensory experience, while formula fed infants are exposed to less diverse taste. Future studies will probably answer how this influences later food choice, taste preferences, and consequently, risk of obesity and other chronic diseases.

Development and validation of a new method for determination of methylparaben in Iran market infant formulae by HPLC.

Parabens are esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs. The presences of parabens in infant formulas raise concerns due to their potential to disrupt endocrine function in infants and cause reproductive toxicities. In this study a new method was developed for extraction and determination of methylparaben in infant formulas using HPLC method and UV detector. Methanol and trichloroacetic acid were used for extraction and isocratic mobile phase comprising equal proportions of glacial acetic acid in water (50:850 v/v) and methanol was used for separation of methylparaben. Recovery of the extraction procedure was good and interferences between methylparaben and other ingredients peaks in HPLC chromatograms decreased. The average recoveries for methylparaben were about 88-108 %. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation for methylparaben were 0.2 and 0.5µg/mL, respectively. Results of the method showed good reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD) 0.29-1.94 % for within day analysis and 0.84-2.18 % for between day analysis). Results were linear in range of 0.5-20µg/mL methylparaben. The results of twenty real infant formula samples showed methylparaben was found only in one sample in concentration 0.3µg/mL. The new extraction and measurement method was a short-time method and could be applicable for large numbers of samples. This method was fast, sensitive and accurate and was capable of being used in legal laboratory references for determination of methylparaben content.

Evidence from Neonatal Piglets Shows How Infant Formula and Other Mammalian Milk Shape Lipid Metabolism

We tested the hypothesis that the consumption of different milk lipids is one of the factors affecting metabolic response to lipid in the early life of infants. Neonatal piglets, as animal models, were stratified by the feeding mode (formula-fed, bovine-, caprine-, and human milk-fed). Lipidomic profiles of plasma and liver samples were detected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The results indicate that 31, 54, and 28 differential lipid species could be used as potential biomarkers for bovine milk, caprine milk, and infant formula-fed samples, respectively, and the main lipid classes screened in plasma were SM, PC, and PE, including PC(14:1/P-20:0) as the isoform of PC(34:1), which regulates the lipid metabolism gene peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, PPAR-α. SM(d15:1/22:0) was the common potential biomarker screened from all of the groups. The amounts of biomarkers screened from the caprine milk-fed liver samples were the highest, which had a significant effect on the distribution of SM, PI, and PA. Infant formula, bovine-, and caprine milk-fed samples had an obvious effect on the metabolism of glycerophospholipid and glycerol ester, especially TG (16:0/18:0/18:2).

Advice to use infant formula and free samples are common in both urban and rural areas in China: a cross-sectional survey.

To examine the association between the place of residence and receiving free samples and advice to feed the baby with infant formula. A cross-sectional study. The current study covered twelve counties/districts in China. 5112 mothers with infants aged 0-5·9 months. About 16 % of the mothers received free samples of infant formula. During pregnancy, this likelihood was higher among mothers in small and medium cities (OR: 1·96; 95 % CI 1·14, 3·38) and non-poor rural counties (OR: 4·65; 95 % CI 1·65, 13·14) compared with mothers in big cities. During the hospital stay, it was lower in big cities. After discharge, it was lower in poor rural counties (OR: 0·14; 95 % CI 0·05, 0·41). About 26 % of the mothers were advised to feed their infants with infant formula. The likelihood of receiving advice to feed the baby with infant formula from hospitals was lower in non-poor (OR: 0·37; 95 % CI 0·21, 0·66) and poor rural counties (OR: 0·35; 95 % CI 0·13, 0·91) than in big cities. Mothers in non-poor rural counties were less likely to receive advice from traditional mass media (OR: 0·17; 95 % CI 0·06, 0·48), while mothers in small and medium cities were more likely to receive advice from modern mass media (OR: 1·84; 95 % CI 1·20, 2·80) compared with mothers in big cities. The promotion strategy of infant formula varies from different places of residence in China. The study suggests the need to strengthen enforcement of relevant regulations, especially within health facilities and through modern mass media.

Quantitation of Vitamin K in Milk Products by Pre-column Reduction HPLC–Fluorescence

Vitamin K is a dietary component that, as a cofactor, has critically important physiological roles in the body. As it is present in milk at very low levels, it is fortified at higher levels in paediatric milk-based formulae. Currently, the predominant analytical strategy for both food database surveys and routine compliance testing is high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column zinc reduction and fluorescence detection. This study presents a single-laboratory validation of a pre-column reduction modification that provides enhanced sensitivity (> 2×) and increased analytical throughput. Accuracy was confirmed by analysis of a certified reference infant formula and milk proficiency samples, and by comparison against the reference method for a wide range of dairy products containing vitamin K1 at both natural and supplemented levels. The method offers several performance advantages and is suitable for routine product compliance release testing.

Determination of Casein Allergens in Extensively Hydrolyzed Casein Infant Formula by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

BackgroundThe use of hypoallergenic infant formulas and the need for reliable tests to determine the presence of residual antigens have increased in parallel.ObjectiveAn LC-MS method for quantitation of casein was validated using incurred samples and a matrix-matched external standard curve.MethodPowdered infant formula samples were extracted in a buffer of sodium deoxycholate and ammonium bicarbonate at 60°C and filtered through 7 kDa desalting columns. Samples were digested overnight with trypsin and precipitated with acid prior to analysis of marker peptides by tandem mass spectrometry.ResultsBased on three marker peptides, the linear range for casein was 1.8–42 μg/g of powdered infant formula with an LOQ of 1.8 μg/g. The determination coefficients (R2) for each curve were ≥0.99 for casein peptides. Method repeatability was ≤22% RSD and intermediate precision was ≤23% RSD; recovery of casein from incurred material (2–20 µg/g) ranged from 78% to 118%.ConclusionsAn LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for confirmation of casein allergens in hypoallergenic infant formula.HighlightsA method was developed to accurately and reliably quantify casein allergens in extensively hydrolyzed casein infant formula by LC-MS without the need for custom peptide standards.

Multivariate optimization of low-temperature cleanup followed by dispersive solid-phase extraction for detection of Bisphenol A and benzophenones in infant formula

A simple and effective analytical method to determine six contaminants, including five benzophenones (BP, BP-1, BP-3, BP-8, and BP-12) and bisphenol A (BPA) in infant formulas was developed in this study. For this, a sequential experimental design was used to optimize the extraction and cleanup method using low temperature partition (LTP) combined with dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE). The effect of primary secondary amine (PSA), sodium chloride (NaCl), graphitized carbon black (GCB), octadecyl (C18), strong anion exchanger (SAX), water, acetonitrile (ACN) and, ultrasound (US) time were evaluated using a sequential design of experiments including a Plackett-Burman, a central composite rotatable design, and the Derringer and Suich's tool. The method was validated, and it showed a limit of quantification varying from 0.06 to 2 mg.kg-1, good precision (< 20% RSD), and recovery (52-106%). The method proposed was applied to twenty-five samples of commercial infant formulas.

Determination of lead, cadmium and arsenic in infant formula in the Lebanese market

Infant formula is a common source of food and nutrition for many infants and toddlers. However, the presence of contaminants, such as toxic metals, may pose increased health risks to infants. An investigation on the occurrence of the toxic metals: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in baby formula marketed in Lebanon was performed. Infant formula samples were collected from 39 brands over two production dates (78 samples in total) and analyzed for the metals using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). As, Pb and Cd were observed in 59%, 8% and 10% of infant formula brands, respectively. The Pb, Cd and As contamination levels were 31.0–1040 μg/kg, 38.0–476 μg/kg and 12.0–251 μg/kg, respectively. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of the toxic metals amongst the various infant formula based on packaging (metal container, aluminum sachet), types (milk-based, corn-based, soy-based), and classification (beginner, beginner, special, continuation). The infant formula samples which contained detectable levels of Pb, Cd and As had higher concentrations of these metals compared to breast milk and infants have a higher average weekly intake of these metals through infant formula. Findings from this study indicate that infant formula is a source of toxic metal exposure for infants.