Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. 
Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. What was studied?
This original research article focused on quantifying both the total aluminium (Al) content and its bioaccessible fraction in a wide array of commercially available infant foods in Brazil. The study’s design is of particular importance to heavy metal certification programs, as it not only measured the raw concentration of Al but also assessed how much Al could realistically be absorbed by infants upon consumption, using an optimized in vitro digestion model that simulates the gastrointestinal conditions of young children. The research targeted 95 infant food samples from various brands, including salty purees, fruit purees, infant drinks (such as soy and chocolate-based drinks), and petit suisse cheese products. The analytical method involved acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES), and bioaccessibility was determined through a simulated digestive process using relevant enzymes and dialysis.
Who was studied?
The research did not involve human or animal subjects directly; instead, it centered on a comprehensive selection of infant food products widely consumed by Brazilian children under two years of age. The foods were sourced from supermarkets and specialty stores in Campinas, São Paulo, and included both industrially produced and handmade or “gourmet” items. The study design considered infants’ dietary habits and body weights as stipulated by the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards, using these values for exposure assessment calculations. The in vitro digestion model was specifically optimized to reflect the physiological and enzymatic environment of infants, thus ensuring that the findings are highly relevant for risk assessment in this vulnerable population.
Most important findings
| Key Result | Details and Relevance |
|---|---|
| Total Aluminium Content | Al concentrations varied widely by product type and brand. The highest total Al was found in petit suisse (4170 μg/kg), soy-based drinks (up to 3070 μg/kg), and certain salty purees (up to 2760 μg/kg). Handmade purees generally had higher Al levels than industrially produced ones, suggesting less control over contamination sources such as utensils or raw materials. |
| Bioaccessible Fraction | The proportion of Al that could potentially be absorbed (bioaccessibility) ranged from as low as 0.5% to as high as 48%, heavily depending on the food matrix. For instance, soy-based drinks and most salty purees had very low bioaccessibility (1.4–8.8%), whereas some milk-based drinks and petit suisse (whole milk) reached higher values (up to 48% and 37%, respectively). |
| Exposure Assessment | Consuming three daily portions of soy-based drinks over a week could exceed the TWI for Al (101% of the recommended limit). Other products, such as chocolate soy-based drinks, dark chocolate milk drinks, and some purees, contributed 53–81% of the TWI. This indicates that routine consumption of certain infant foods may pose a risk of excessive Al exposure. |
| Risk Factors and Variability | Industrially manufactured products generally exhibited lower Al contamination, highlighting the importance of process control. The study also emphasized that total Al content alone does not accurately reflect actual exposure risk, underscoring the necessity of bioaccessibility studies. |
Key implications
The study demonstrates that heavy metal certification programs must consider both total and bioaccessible aluminium in infant foods. Routine consumption of certain products, especially soy-based drinks or chocolate-flavored items, can lead to Al exposures that surpass international safety limits, posing a health concern for infants. Certification standards should thus require bioaccessibility assessment, tighter ingredient sourcing, and stringent process controls, especially for high-risk product categories. Regular monitoring and transparent labeling are also vital to safeguard infant health.
Citation
de Paiva EL, Medeiros C, Fioravanti MIA, Milani RF, Morgano MA, Pallone JAL, Arisseto-Bragotto AP. Aluminium in infant foods: Total content, effect of in vitro digestion on bioaccessible fraction and preliminary exposure assessment. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2020;90:103493. doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2020.103493.
