(BLOG) - Health: Furan in the baby-food samples purchased from the Finnish markets

A method applying solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometric determination was in-house validated and used to study furan concentrations in baby-food samples purchased from the Finnish markets. The validation parameters showed that the method was well applicable for the reliable analysis of furan. Furan was analysed in 21 different baby-food samples as three independent replicates. The mean levels of furan varied between 4.7 and 90.3[mu]gkg.sup.-1 being well in accordance with the levels reported in other studies. The mean concentrations of similar product formulas based on their ingredients were 9.2, 37.0 and 49.6[mu]gkg.sup.-1 for fruit-, vegetables- and meat-containing baby-foods, respectively. According to the statistical analyses, fruit-based baby-food samples had significantly lower concentrations of furan as compared to other formulas. Based on our exercise, it seems that a low margin of safety exists between the extreme worst case infant exposures and the deduced NOAEL of furan on experimental animals, particularly for a clear rodent carcinogen.

Author Affiliation:

(a) Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira), Research Department, Chemistry and Toxicology Unit, Mustialankatu 3, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland

(b) University of Turku, Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, Vatselankatu 2, FI-20014 Turku, Finland

(c) National Institute for Health and Welfare, Nutrition Unit, P.O. Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland

Article History:

Received 24 September 2008; Revised 20 February 2009; Accepted 12 April 2009

Source Citation:Jestoi, Marika, Talvikki Jarvinen, Eila Jarvenpaa, Heli Tapanainen, Suvi Virtanen, and Kimmo Peltonen. "Furan in the baby-food samples purchased from the Finnish markets - Determination with SPME-GC-MS.(Report)." Food Chemistry 117.3 (Dec 1, 2009): 522(7). Academic OneFile. Gale. BROWARD COUNTY LIBRARY. 29 Aug. 2009
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