[Supply of some essential trace elements to the Hungarian population]

The authors determined the copper, zinc, chromium, cobalt, manganese, iron and nickel contents in 703 samples of animal foods (meat, offals, milk, eggs) from different parts of Hungary and of 370 samples of fruits and vegetables. Calculations based on consumption data from the Central Board of Statistics showed that the copper and iron intakes of the population are lower than those suggested the FAO/WHO. When infants are given exclusively ready-to-use baby foods produced on a milk-only basis (Hungarian products and products imported from western countries), their supply is still less favourable than that to adults. Whereas human milk meets also the requirements of trace elements optimally, ready-to-use baby foods produced on a milk-only basis supply not more than 10--15% on the required copper and 20--35% of the required iron. The authors focus attention on the risk of inadequate supply of trace elements in childhood, the negative implications of which will still manifest themselves in adulthood for a long time.