Minerals and trace elements in commercial infant food.

ABSTRACT

Adequate nutrition during infancy is essential for lifelong health and wellbeing. Breast-feeding is highly recommended for the first six month of life, but from then on complementary feeding is necessary. Industrially produced food is an important part of the diet for many infants and toddlers in developed countries. We have determined the concentration of major minerals and trace elements in 76 different products of infant formula, porridges, fruit purée and dinners by HR-ICP-MS. The products were collected from three suppliers on the Norwegian market (Nestlé, Tine and Nyco Pharma). A daily menu was also composed and the estimated daily intake was compared with current recommendations. All products were within the upper tolerable limit for the minerals of trace elements analysed and toxic elements were present at very low levels. A diet based solely on industrially prepared food products will provide a sufficient intake of minerals and trace elements.