[Phthalate analysis in foods for young children using LC-MS method]

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Food Safety
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Phthalates are persistent organic pollutants widely used as plasticizers.
• Their ubiquitous presence in food necessitates monitoring, especially in baby food.
• Adverse health effects linked to phthalates underscore the importance of content control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify phthalate content in baby food products for infants aged 0-3 years.
• To assess the hygienic and health risks associated with phthalate exposure from baby food.
• To identify priority phthalate contaminants in dehydrated baby food.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of phthalates (C1-C8) in dehydrated baby food using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS).
• Quantification of seven phthalates across milk porridge, dairy-free porridge, adapted milk formula, and milk drink samples.
• Health risk assessment by comparing daily intake with reference doses.

Main Results:

• Seven out of nine phthalates were detected, ranging from 0.003 to 0.199 mg/kg.
• Diethyl phthalate (0.046-0.199 mg/kg) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (0.011-0.115 mg/kg) were the priority contaminants.
• Maximum phthalate levels were found in milk and dairy-free porridges; however, no exceeding of permissible health risk levels was observed.

Conclusions:

• Milk and dairy-free porridges exhibited the highest phthalate contamination.
• Diethyl phthalate and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate are the primary phthalate pollutants in the analyzed baby foods.
• Calculated hazard indices indicate an acceptable risk to public health from phthalate consumption in baby food.