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 systematically investigated the presence and risk of nickel contamination in commercially premade baby foods available in Portugal. The study analyzed 85 samples encompassing four main categories: 26 ready meals, 31 fruit-based products, 8 desserts, and 20 paps. The primary objective was to quantify nickel concentrations within these foods and assess whether consumption poses a health risk to infants and young children, particularly in light of the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) recently lowered tolerable daily intake (TDI) for nickel (2.8 μg/kg body weight). The analytical approach employed dry ashing followed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), with rigorous calibration and validation procedures. Researchers also evaluated differences based on organic versus non-organic farming, and private versus white-label branding. The estimated daily intake (EDI) was calculated for children at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years old, assuming diets consisting exclusively of commercial premade baby foods and breast milk. These EDIs were compared with the EFSA TDI to determine potential health risks.
Who was studied?
The study did not directly enroll human participants; rather, it focused on food products intended for infants and young children. The 85 premade baby food samples were sourced from supermarkets in the Coimbra district of Portugal during February and March 2018. The samples were categorized according to food type (ready meals, fruits, desserts, paps), production method (organic vs. non-organic), and distribution channel (private label vs. white label). The risk assessment component modeled typical consumption patterns and body weights for children aged 6 months (8 kg), 1 year (10.25 kg), and 2 years (12.75 kg), based on established dietary guidelines. The study thus represents the exposure risk to a generalized population of infants and toddlers consuming these commercially available foods rather than a specific cohort.
Most important findings
| Key Findings | Details / Implications |
|---|---|
| Nickel presence in baby foods | 91.8% of samples (78/85) exceeded detection limit (12.5 μg/kg); mean concentration 40.4 μg/kg. |
| Product categories | Highest in fruit products (avg 50.1 μg/kg, max 225.7 μg/kg), followed by ready meals (40.2 μg/kg), paps (32.4 μg/kg), and desserts (23.5 μg/kg). |
| Organic vs non-organic | Organic products had 100% detection and higher mean nickel (54.7 μg/kg) vs non-organic (35.8 μg/kg), contrary to typical assumptions about fertilizers/pesticides. |
| Brand type | No significant difference between private and white-label products. |
| Risk assessment – average intake | Estimated daily intake for 2-year-olds: 3.13 μg/kg body weight, exceeding EFSA TDI, indicating potential health risk. |
| Risk assessment – worst-case | Intake using highest nickel levels: up to 13.9 μg/kg body weight (≈5× TDI). For 6 months and 1 year, worst-case exposures reached 4.88 and 12.22 μg/kg body weight, respectively. |
| Primary contributors | Fruit-based products contributed most to nickel intake; organic products posed higher risk. |
Key implications
Nickel’s widespread presence in premade baby foods, including organic products, highlights the need for comprehensive surveillance and control across all production methods. Organic foods may contain higher nickel than non-organic, showing that heavy metal uptake depends on soil and environmental sources, not just farming practices. Typical infant consumption often exceeds safety thresholds like the EFSA TDI, especially in older infants and toddlers. Regulatory agencies should consider setting maximum residue limits (MRLs) for nickel in baby foods. For programs like HTMC, these findings support rigorous, product-specific testing, transparent reporting, and regular updates to certification criteria based on evolving science. Further research is needed to trace nickel sources in agriculture, processing, and packaging to guide targeted risk mitigation.
Citation
Pereira, A. M. P. T., Silva, L. J. G., Simões, B. D. F., Lino, C., & Pena, A. (2020). Exposure to nickel through commercial premade baby foods: Is there any risk?Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 92, 103541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2020.103541
Nickel is a widely used transition metal found in alloys, batteries, and consumer products that also contaminates food and water. High exposure is linked to allergic contact dermatitis, organ toxicity, and developmental effects, with children often exceeding EFSA’s tolerable daily intake of 3 μg/kg bw. Emerging evidence shows nickel crosses the placenta, elevating risks of preterm birth and congenital heart defects, underscoring HMTC’s stricter limits to safeguard vulnerable populations.
