Study on the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in milk and meat/fish based baby food available in Italy

The study compared the profile of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, frequently occurred in food, in milk (N=22) and meat/fish based (N=18) baby foods available on the Italian market. PAH total levels, markers (Regulation EC/835/2011) and carcinogenic PAHs were determined by high- performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FD). The average of total PAHs was 52.25 μg kg-1 in milk and 11.82 μg kg-1 in meat/fish based baby foods. The levels of PAH markers were higher than the permissible EU limits of 1 μg kg-1 in 18.2% and 77.7 % milk, and 5.6% and 44.4 % meat/fish based baby foods. Milk based samples showed significant higher values (P < 0.05) of carcinogenic and possible carcinogenic hydrocarbons than meat/fish based products. The Margins of Exposure (MOE) value of milk based baby food samples indicated a potential concern for consumer health. Monitoring programs, and good agriculture and manufacture practices should be recommended.