Inorganic Contaminants in Rapadura from Latin America

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Non-centrifugal cane sugar (NCS), or rapadura, is a natural sweetener but may contain inorganic contaminants.
• Ensuring the safety of artisanal food products like rapadura is crucial for consumer health.
• Existing methods for contaminant analysis in NCS require optimization for accuracy and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize and validate an analytical method for determining arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in NCS.
• To assess the levels of these inorganic contaminants in commercially available NCS samples from Latin America.
• To ensure consumer safety by comparing contaminant levels with regulatory standards.

Main Methods:

• Acid extraction of inorganic contaminants using an ultrasound bath.
• Optimization of extraction parameters (time, oxidant mixture) via a 2^2 central composite design.
• Determination of As, Cd, and Pb using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES).

Main Results:

• Optimized method achieved limits of detection/quantification between 0.005-0.039 mg kg⁻¹, with trueness from 93-108%.
• NCS samples showed low levels of As (<0.012 µg kg⁻¹) and Cd (<0.005-0.045 mg kg⁻¹).
• All samples contained quantifiable Pb levels, with 33% exceeding Brazilian and MERCOSUR regulatory limits.

Conclusions:

• The developed ultrasound-assisted acid extraction method is suitable for analyzing inorganic contaminants in NCS.
• While As and Cd levels are generally safe, Pb contamination is a concern in Latin American NCS.
• Regular monitoring of inorganic contaminants in NCS is essential for safeguarding consumer health.