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 study evaluated a comprehensive analytical workflow for the quantification of both toxic and essential elements in a wide variety of baby food products. Analysis of baby food for Heavy metals focused on developing and validating a robust method using microwave-assisted acid digestion followed by analysis with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) system, specifically the Thermo Scientific iCAP MTX. The primary goal was to demonstrate a single, automated methodology capable of meeting stringent regulatory detection limits for toxic heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, while simultaneously quantifying essential minerals, all across diverse sample matrices, including dry powders, wet purees, and high-fat content foods. This ICP-MS baby food analysis workflow was designed for high productivity in a routine testing laboratory environment.
Who was studied?
The subjects of the Analysis of baby food for Heavy metals were six commercially available baby food products and three certified reference materials (CRMs). The baby food samples were purchased from a local supermarket and represented a diverse range of matrices: yogurt, apple-nectarine-banana compote, carrot puree, salmon with vegetables, lamb puree, and an infant biscuit. The certified reference materials—skimmed milk powder, infant rice cereal, and a sweet digestive biscuit—were analyzed to rigorously validate the method’s accuracy and precision. This selection was crucial for testing the method’s robustness against variable sample compositions, including differences in fat, moisture, protein, and carbohydrate content.
Most important findings
| Finding Category | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Method Sensitivity | Achieved MLOQs for As, Cd, Hg, Pb were at least 2x lower than EAM 4.7 nominal limits, ensuring detection well below regulatory thresholds. |
| Accuracy (CRM Recovery) | Recoveries for toxic elements (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) were between 90-120% across three different CRMs, validating method accuracy. |
| Real-Sample Results | Salmon/vegetable puree exceeded 23 µg·kg⁻¹ for total As; carrot, lamb, and biscuit samples showed Cd levels above 5 µg·kg⁻¹. |
| Analytical Robustness | Automatic 5x argon gas dilution and interference suppression modes (SQ-KED, TQ-O₂) ensured stable performance across 8-hour runs with varied matrices. |
| Essential Element Data | Successfully quantified essential minerals (e.g., Fe, Zn, Cu, Ca) alongside toxic elements, providing a comprehensive nutritional and safety profile. |
Key implications
This ICP-MS baby food analysis workflow has primary regulatory impacts by providing a validated path for manufacturers to comply with stringent limits like those in the Baby Food Safety Act. It directly informs certification requirements, necessitating methods with MLOQs significantly lower than legal limits and demonstrating accuracy via CRM recovery. For industry applications, the single-method approach for diverse matrices streamlines quality control testing. An identified research gap is the need for arsenic speciation to distinguish toxic inorganic forms from less harmful organic ones. Practical recommendations include adopting automated sample preparation and ICP-MS with interference-collision cells to ensure reliable, high-throughput monitoring for heavy metal certification programs.
Citation
Naëls L. Trace metals analysis in baby food using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Thermo Fisher Scientific. 2024. Application Note 003160.
Cadmium is a persistent heavy metal that accumulates in kidneys and bones. Dietary sources include cereals, cocoa, shellfish and vegetables, while smokers and industrial workers receive higher exposures. Studies link cadmium to kidney dysfunction, bone fractures and cancer.
