Occurrence of ochratoxin a in infant foods in the United States

Abstract

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a possible human carcinogen and occurs frequently in cereal grain, soy, and other agricultural commodities. Infants and young children may be more susceptible to contaminants than adults because of their lower body weight, higher metabolic rate, reduced ability to detoxify food toxicants, and more restricted diet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and levels of OTA in infant formula and infant cereal products available in the U.S. market. In the present study, 98 powdered infant formula (milk- and soy-based) samples and 155 infant cereal (barley-, rice-, oat-, wheat-, and mixed grain-based) products were collected from different retail locations in the United States over a 2-year period. OTA levels were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Although OTA was not detected in any of the infant formula samples, 47 (30%) of 155 infant cereals were contaminated with OTA in the range of 0.6 to 22.1 ng/g. At present, there is no regulatory limit for OTA in the United States. However, all of the positive samples were above the maximum level set by the European Commission (0.5 ng/g) for OTA in baby foods. OTA was detected in all types of infant cereals, but the highest incidence and concentrations were found in oat-based infant cereals (59%), followed by mixed grain cereals (34%). Increased surveillance and monitoring of OTA levels in grains used in infant foods may be needed to reduce exposure of infants and young children to OTA from cereal products.