Survey of total mercury and arsenic content in infant cereals marketed in Spain and estimated dietary intake

Organic Rice Production Practices: Effects on Grain End-Use Quality, Healthfulness, and Safety

Demand for rice labeled as organic is growing globally. Consumers state that foods labeled as organic are nutritionally superior and safer than their conventionally produced equivalent. The research question for this systematic review is as follows: is there a difference between the effects of sustainable agriculture and conventional farming methods on rice grain end-use quality, healthfulness, and safety? The studies (n = 23) examined for this review suggest that organic production practices don't influence most end-use quality (e.g., chalk, milling yield, pasting properties) and healthfulness (e.g., gamma-oryzanol fraction and tocols) traits studied, or if it does, it will be to a small degree. If differences in end-use quality traits are found, they will be associated with grain protein content, which varies along with the dose of nitrogen applied during rice growth. We conclude that the studies evaluated in this review found that organically produced rice grain was less likely to contain residues of the pesticides (e.g., organochlorine) examined in the study than the rice is grown using conventional methods. There was some evidence that organically grown rice is more likely to be contaminated with mycotoxin-producing fungi and some mycotoxins. Common shortcomings of the studies were that they were poorly designed, with limited to no details of the cultural management practices used to grow the rice studied, the length of time fields was under organic management not stated, cultivars were not named, and the data wasn't analyzed statistically.

Arsenic Exposure through Dietary Intake and Associated Health Hazards in the Middle East

Dietary arsenic (As) contamination is a major public health issue. In the Middle East, the food supply relies primarily on the import of food commodities. Among different age groups the main source of As exposure is grains and grain-based food products, particularly rice and rice-based dietary products. Rice and rice products are a rich source of core macronutrients and act as a chief energy source across the world. The rate of rice consumption ranges from 250 to 650 g per day per person in South East Asian countries. The source of carbohydrates through rice is one of the leading causes of human As exposure. The Gulf population consumes primarily rice and ready-to-eat cereals as a large proportion of their meals. Exposure to arsenic leads to an increased risk of non-communicable diseases such as dysbiosis, obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart disease, cancer, and maternal and fetal complications. The impact of arsenic-containing food items and their exposure on health outcomes are different among different age groups. In the Middle East countries, neurological deficit disorder (NDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases are alarming issues. Arsenic exposure might be a causative factor that should be assessed by screening the population and regulatory bodies rechecking the limits of As among all age groups. Our goals for this review are to outline the source and distribution of arsenic in various foods and water and summarize the health complications linked with arsenic toxicity along with identified modifiers that add heterogeneity in biological responses and suggest improvements for multi-disciplinary interventions to minimize the global influence of arsenic. The development and validation of diverse analytical techniques to evaluate the toxic levels of different As contaminants in our food products is the need of the hour. Furthermore, standard parameters and guidelines for As-containing foods should be developed and implemented.

Cereal and Juice, Lead and Arsenic, Our Children at Risk: A Call for the FDA to Re-Evaluate the Allowable Limits of Lead and Arsenic That Children May Ingest

Eliminating heavy metal contamination of foods is a goal yet to be achieved in the U.S. In recent months, efforts have been underway to have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) re-evaluate the permissible limits of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) allowable in cereals and juices aimed for consumption by children. This report discusses the recent scientific literature that support proposed revisions in these limits. It presents proactive suggestions for the FDA to consider in its response to concerns of ongoing Pb and As exposures in food and drinks. While more scientific studies are needed to better define ‘safe’ levels of Pb and As exposures and ingestion of these elements in general are neurotoxic, the higher sensitivity of children to these toxic elements makes it imperative that the FDA adjust standards to be most protective of infants, toddlers, and children.

CRM rapid response approach for the certification of arsenic species and toxic trace elements in baby cereal coarse rice flour certified reference material BARI-1

With recently legislated maximum levels of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in white and brown rice in Canada, the regulatory bodies are evaluating the need for regulation of As levels in infant food products. Rice is a major part of infants' diet, and therefore, the presence of As in this staple food causes concerns. So far, the scientific community was lacking suitable certified reference material (CRM) which could be used to assess the accuracy of developed analytical methods for As speciation in infants' food products. As a result, we have developed BARI-1, a baby cereal coarse rice flour reference material which was certified for total arsenic (0.248 ± 0.018 mg kg^-1), cadmium (0.0134 ± 0.0014 mg kg^-1), mercury (0.0026 ± 0.0003 mg kg^-1), lead (0.0064 ± 0.0016 mg kg^-1), inorganic As (0.113 ± 0.016 mg kg^-1) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) (0.115 ± 0.010 mg kg^-1), and reference value for monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) (0.0045 ± 0.0008 mg kg^-1) was reported. We also observed trace amounts of an unknown As compound, with chromatographic retention time close to DMA. Participating laboratories were allowed to use their in-house-validated extraction and/or digestion methods, and the detection of total metals was done by ICP-MS whereas HPLC-ICP-MS was used for As speciation. Despite the diversity in sample preparation and quantitation methods, reported values were in good agreement. For iAs measurement, the comparison between hydride generation ICP-MS and HPLC-ICP-MS found iAs overestimation with the former method, possibly due to interference from DMA. The certification was accomplished with a CRM rapid response approach in collaborative, focused effort completing the CRM development in few months instead of the typical multiyear project. This approach allowed to respond to measurement needs in a timely fashion. Graphical abstract.

Accumulation, fractionation, and risk assessment of mercury and arsenic in the soil-wheat system from the wastewater-irrigated soil in Baiyin, northwest China

Wastewater irrigation can increase metal concentrations in soil and wheat, thereby posing metal-associated health risk via food ingestion. We investigated levels of mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in roots, husks, stems, leaves, and grains of wheat and their fractionations in farmland soil from Baiyin City, an industrial and mining city, northwest China. Results show that the mean concentrations of Hg in soils from Dongdagou and Xidagou stream in Baiyin were 8.5 times and three times higher than local soil background values, respectively. Those of As were 4.5 times and 1.6 times higher, respectively. Most Hg and As were mainly accumulated in wheat leaves. The spatial distributions of As in soils and grains exhibit a very similar pattern, which suggest that As pollution in soils might be predicted by its level in wheat grains. Residual fractions for Hg (RES-Hg) and As (RES-As) are the highest compared to other fractions, indicating weak mobility of Hg and As in soil. The crop oral intake hazard quotients of both Hg and As for children were approximately two times higher than that for adults, indicating that children have higher exposure risks to Hg- and As-contaminated wheat. The crop oral intake was the main route of exposure causing non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk for local residents.

Donkey milk as a supplement in infant formula: Benefits and technological challenges

The aim of this review paper is to assess the applicability of donkey's milk to infants suffering from Cow Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) compared to human and other available milk types. The bioactive and immune-supportive character which could be beneficial as a fortifier to the formula-fed infants is described while limitations of this type of milk are also discussed. Studies showed that human and donkey's milk have similar, overall, chemical composition as well as protein homogeneity and antigenic similarities. Several in vitro and in vivo studies showed that donkey's milk has nutraceutical and functional properties that can support immunity, alter metabolism and beneficially modify gut microbiota. Clinical studies illustrated that donkeys' milk is well tolerated (82.6%-88%) by infants. Finally, the effect that processing (i.e. thermal, non-thermal treatments, drying methods) has on donkey milk components is also discussed pointing out the need for minimally processing this type of milk.

Inorganic arsenic contents in infant rice powders and infant rice snacks marketed in Korea determined by a highly sensitive gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry following derivatization with British Anti-Lewisite

Toxic inorganic arsenic (iAs) has been reported to be present in high quantity in rice and rice-based products. The inorganic arsenic contents in infant foods (n = 59) of ready-to-cook infant rice powders and infant rice snacks marketed in Korea were determined by a highly sensitive gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The mean iAs contents in the infant rice powder and infant rice snacks were 65.6 and 54.0 μg/kg, respectively. The percentages of rice powders and rice snack containing iAs over the maximum level (100 μg/kg) set by EU for the infant foods were found to be 21, and 6%, respectively. This result clearly suggested that regulation regarding the maximum limit of iAs levels for the baby rice products is urgently needed to be set in Korea. This represents the first report on the iAs levels in ready-to-cook infant rice powder products and infant snacks marketed in Korea.

Potential Exposure to Arsenic from Infant Rice Cereal

Background

Rice is known to be high in arsenic, including in infant rice cereal. Although arsenic in drinking water is currently regulated, there are currently no US regulations regarding arsenic concentrations in food.

Objective

We used published values to estimate arsenic exposure via rice cereal relative to breast milk or formula for 6- to 12-month-old infants in the general US population.

Results

We found that arsenic exposure from 3 servings of rice cereal exceeded that of formula made with water containing arsenic at 10 mg/L, the US Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that rice cereal can markedly increase arsenic exposure among US infants relative to breast milk and formula.

Occurrence of Methylmercury in Rice-Based Infant Cereals and Estimation of Daily Dietary Intake of Methylmercury for Infants

Recent reports of elevated levels of methylmercury (MeHg) in rice revealed the possible occurrence of MeHg in infant rice cereals, leading to potential MeHg exposure through cereal consumption. Total mercury (THg) and MeHg levels in 119 infant cereal samples commonly marketed in the United States and China and estimated daily intake of MeHg through cereal consumption were determined. Concentrations of THg and MeHg in the tested cereal samples ranged from 0.35 to 15.9 μg/kg and from 0.07 to 13.9 μg/kg with means of 2.86 and 1.61 μg/kg, respectively. Rice-based cereals contained MeHg levels significantly higher than those of nonrice cereals, indicating that MeHg in rice could be source of MeHg in cereals. Cereal consumption could be a potential pathway of MeHg exposure for infants, as the EDI through cereal consumption amounted to 4-122% of the MeHg reference dose, suggesting the necessity of further evaluation of the potential health risk of dietary MeHg exposure to infants.

Co-exposure to methylmercury and inorganic arsenic in baby rice cereals and rice-containing teething biscuits

BACKGROUND

Rice is an important dietary source for methylmercury (MeHg), a potent neurotoxin, and inorganic arsenic (As), a human carcinogen. Rice baby cereals are a dietary source of inorganic As; however, less is known concerning MeHg concentrations in rice baby cereals and rice teething biscuits.

METHODS

MeHg concentrations were measured in 36 rice baby cereals, eight rice teething biscuits, and four baby cereals manufactured with oats/wheat (n = 48 total). Arsenic (As) species, including inorganic As, were determined in rice baby cereals and rice teething biscuits (n = 44/48), while total As was determined in all products (n = 48).

RESULTS

Rice baby cereals and rice teething biscuits were on average 61 and 92 times higher in MeHg, respectively, and 9.4 and 4.7 times higher in total As, respectively, compared to wheat/oat baby cereals. For a 15-g serving of rice baby cereal, average MeHg intake was 0.0092μgday-1 (range: 0.0013-0.034μgday-1), while average inorganic As intake was 1.3μgday-1 (range: 0.37-2.3μgday-1). Inorganic As concentrations in two brands of rice baby cereal (n = 12/36 boxes of rice cereal) exceeded 100ng/g, the proposed action level from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Log10 MeHg and inorganic As concentrations in rice baby cereals were strongly, positively correlated (Pearson's rho = 0.60, p < 0.001, n = 36).

CONCLUSIONS

Rice-containing baby cereals and teething biscuits were a dietary source of both MeHg and inorganic As. Studies concerning the cumulative impacts of MeHg and inorganic As on offspring development are warranted.

Essential and toxic elements in commercial baby food on the Spanish and Serbian market

About 10 heavy elements were determined in 90 samples of baby food collected from Spanish and Serbian market. The results indicated that iron, manganese and copper were most frequently detected. Tin was the predominant toxic element in both Spanish and Serbian samples, with occurrence frequencies of 12.5% and 10.0%, respectively. Element intake for Spanish and Serbian infants were estimated and compared with the recommended reference values, for the majority of elements being lower than one. However, iron and manganese intake through consumption of infant/follow-on formulas were assessed to be higher than the respective daily intakes. Particular attention should be paid to the exposure of infants who consume porridges made of vegetables and fish or chicken, because they may ingest certain elements, particularly arsenic and lead, at levels that exceed the reference toxicological values. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to classify and distinguish the different types of baby food.

Contribution of breast milk and formula to arsenic exposure during the first year of life in a US prospective cohort

Arsenic is a carcinogen that can also affect the cardiac, respiratory, neurological and immune systems. Children have higher dietary arsenic exposure than adults owing to their more restricted diets and greater intake per unit body mass. We evaluated the potential contributions of breast milk and formula to arsenic exposure throughout the first year of life for 356 infants in the prospective New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS) using infant diets reported by telephone at 4, 8 and 12 months of age; measured household water arsenic concentrations; and literature data. Based on our central-tendency models, population-wide geometric mean (GM) estimated arsenic exposures in the NHBCS were relatively low, decreasing from 0.1 μg/kg/day at 4 months of age to 0.07 μg/kg/day at 12 months of age. At all three time points, exclusively formula-fed infants had GM arsenic exposures ~8 times higher than exclusively breastfed infants owing to arsenic in both tap water and formula powder. Estimated maximum exposures reached 9 μg/kg/day among exclusively formula-fed infants in households with high tap water arsenic (80 μg/l). Overall, modeled arsenic exposures via breast milk and formula were low throughout the first year of life, unless formula was prepared with arsenic-contaminated tap water.

Estimated exposure to arsenic in breastfed and formula-fed infants in a United States cohort

BACKGROUND

Previous studies indicate that concentrations of arsenic in breast milk are relatively low even in areas with high drinking-water arsenic. However, it is uncertain whether breastfeeding leads to reduced infant exposure to arsenic in regions with lower arsenic concentrations.

OBJECTIVE

We estimated the relative contributions of breast milk and formula to arsenic exposure during early infancy in a U.S.

METHODS

We measured arsenic in home tap water (n = 874), urine from 6-week-old infants (n = 72), and breast milk from mothers (n = 9) enrolled in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Using data from a 3-day food diary, we compared urinary arsenic across infant feeding types and developed predictive exposure models to estimate daily arsenic intake from breast milk and formula.

RESULTS

Urinary arsenic concentrations were generally low (median, 0.17 μg/L; maximum, 2.9 μg/L) [corrected] but 7.5 times higher for infants fed exclusively with formula than for infants fed exclusively with breast milk (β = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.21, 2.83; p < 0.0001, adjusted for specific gravity). Similarly, the median estimated daily arsenic intake by NHBCS infants was 5.5 times higher for formula-fed infants (0.22 μg/kg/day) than for breastfed infants (0.04 μg/kg/day). Given median arsenic concentrations measured in NHBCS tap water and previously published for formula powder, formula powder was estimated to account for ~ 70% of median exposure among formula-fed NHBCS infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that breastfed infants have lower arsenic exposure than formula-fed infants, and that both formula powder and drinking water can be sources of exposure for U.S. infants.

Determination of Trace Arsenic Content in Commercial Crispbread by Hydride Generation Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry

Methodology for the determination of total As in crispbread by hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (HG–ICP–OES) was evaluated. The effect of pre-reduction reagents before the HG reaction under conditions of real samples was investigated. Sonication (15 min, 25°C) of samples with aqua regia allowed complete release of As species in solutions. Arsenic hydride was generated in the reaction with NaBH4 (1.0 % (m/v)) after the pre-reduction of AsV to AsIII with ascorbic acid (1.5 % (m/v)) and KI (0.5 % (m/v)) in 3 mol L–1 HCl. Detection limits (LODs) of 0.46 (AsIII) and 0.49 (AsV) μg L–1 were assessed. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by analysis with a certificate reference material and recovery test. Various crispbreads (wheat, rye, corn, rice) were analysed with the developed procedure and As content varied between 0.027 and 0.219 μg g–1, being the highest in the rice samples.

Rapid enzymatic method for pectin methyl esters determination

Pectin is a natural polysaccharide used in food and pharma industries. Pectin degree of methylation is an important parameter having significant influence on pectin applications. A rapid, fully automated, kinetic flow method for determination of pectin methyl esters has been developed. The method is based on a lab-made analyzer using the reverse flow-injection/stopped flow principle. Methanol is released from pectin by pectin methylesterase in the first mixing coil. Enzyme working solution is injected further downstream and it is mixed with pectin/pectin methylesterase stream in the second mixing coil. Methanol is oxidized by alcohol oxidase releasing formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide. This reaction is coupled to horse radish peroxidase catalyzed reaction, which gives the colored product 4-N-(p-benzoquinoneimine)-antipyrine. Reaction rate is proportional to methanol concentration and it is followed using Ocean Optics USB 2000+ spectrophotometer. The analyzer is fully regulated by a lab written LabVIEW program. The detection limit was 1.47 mM with an analysis rate of 7 samples h(-1). A paired t-test with results from manual method showed that the automated method results are equivalent to the manual method at the 95% confidence interval. The developed method is rapid and sustainable and it is the first application of flow analysis in pectin analysis.