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 assessed arsenic concentration and speciation in commercially available infant formulas and first foods, including fruit and vegetable purees as well as more complex stage 2/3 foods. The researchers purchased a range of popular infant food products from supermarkets in Hanover, New Hampshire, representing both dairy-based and non-dairy/soy-based formulas, as well as rice- and non-rice-fortified products. Speciation analysis was integral, as food can contain both highly toxic inorganic arsenic and less harmful organic forms. Analytical methods included microwave acid digestion for total arsenic quantification by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and anion-exchange chromatography coupled to ICP-MS for arsenic speciation. The study compared arsenic levels across different product formulations and estimated potential exposure risks for infants, thus offering key data for the development of effective heavy metal certification standards.
Who was studied?
The products examined were infant formulas (n=15), fruit and vegetable purees (n=41), and stage 2/3 multi-ingredient foods (n=18) sourced from various brands in the U.S. The study did not involve human or animal subjects directly but rather evaluated the arsenic content in foods marketed for infants aged 3 to 15 months. Feeding and serving size assumptions in exposure calculations were based on average weights and feeding frequencies from the World Health Organization growth standards for infants. The study’s focus on products commonly consumed by infants within this vulnerable age range is critical, as their low body mass and developmental stage increase susceptibility to toxic effects from dietary arsenic, especially from inorganic forms.
Most important findings
| Key Area | Findings and Details |
|---|---|
| Infant Formulas | Arsenic was present in all formulas, ranging from 2.2–12.6 ng/g. Non-dairy (soy-based) formulas had significantly higher arsenic than dairy-based formulas. Speciation analyses revealed arsenic in formulas was almost entirely inorganic, the more toxic form. Exposure calculations showed that a 3-month-old infant could exceed the reference adult “safe” exposure limit (0.17 μg/kg/d) solely from formula at the higher arsenic concentration levels. |
| Purees | Total arsenic in purees ranged from 0.3–22 ng/g. Most purees were low, except for some pear-containing products (up to 20 ng/g), likely due to specific ingredient sources. Inorganic arsenic comprised 76–83% of total arsenic in high-arsenic pear purees. Estimated exposures from typical puree consumption could reach or surpass adult safe limits, especially when combined with formula intake. |
| Stage 2/3 Foods | Arsenic levels ranged up to 22 ng/g, with rice-containing and meat-containing foods having the highest concentrations. Again, arsenic was predominantly inorganic (>70%). Estimated daily exposures for a 1-year-old could be more than double the adult reference if consuming several servings. |
| Regulatory Context | There are no current US regulations for arsenic in infant foods, though China’s limit for inorganic arsenic in rice (150 ng/g) far exceeds the concentrations found here. However, due to infants’ low body mass, even these lower levels pose potential health concerns. |
| Speciation Necessity | The study highlights the critical need to distinguish inorganic from organic arsenic in food analysis for accurate risk assessment and certification. |
Key implications
This research underscores that arsenic concentration in infant formulas and first foods, especially in rice-fortified and non-dairy products, can result in infant exposures surpassing “safe” adult limits due to the predominance of toxic inorganic arsenic. Certification programs must implement stringent standards for inorganic arsenic, mandate speciation analysis, and prioritize minimizing arsenic content in infant-targeted foods. Regulatory agencies should consider infants’ unique vulnerability and the cumulative exposure from multiple sources.
Citation
Jackson BP, Taylor VF, Punshon T, Cottingham KL. Arsenic concentration and speciation in infant formulas and first foods. Pure Appl Chem. 2012;84(2):215–223. doi:10.1351/PAC-CON-11-09-17
Heavy metals are high-density elements that accumulate in the body and environment, disrupting biological processes. Lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, nickel, tin, aluminum, and chromium are of greatest concern due to persistence, bioaccumulation, and health risks, making them central to the HMTC program’s safety standards.
