Biomaterial Database

European survey of contamination of homogenized baby food by epoxidized soybean oil migration from plasticized PVC gaskets. 2003

L Fantoni, and C Simoneau

European Commission DG Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Physical and Chemical Exposure Unit, I-21020 Ispra, Italy.

The results are reported of a European survey of the contamination of baby food with epoxidized soyabean oil (ESBO). Fat from the sample was extracted, transmethylated and derivatized for analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Analysis was carried out of 248 samples of various types of foodstuffs from the 15 European Union Member States as well as Switzerland. ESBO was found in 95 of 248 samples analysed at levels from 1.5 to 135.2 mg kg(-1). The highest concentrations were found in main dish mixed foods such as vegetables and meat or carbohydrate- and vegetable-based mixes. Levels exceeded 30 mg kg(-1) in 15% of the samples, and 4% exceeded the overall migration limit fixed for plastics in the European Union of 60 mg kg(-1). This level of contamination is significant, confirming results from previous surveys and indicating a risk for the tolerable daily intake to be exceeded. These results suggest that an emphasis must be placed for more systematic research with a focus on the parameters for migration.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007225	Infant Food	Food processed and manufactured for the nutritional health of children in their first year of life.	Food, Infant,Foods, Infant,Infant Foods
D008460	Meat	The edible portions of any animal used for food including cattle, swine, goats/sheep, poultry, fish, shellfish, and game.	Meats
D011143	Polyvinyl Chloride	A polyvinyl resin used extensively in the manufacture of plastics, including medical devices, tubing, and other packaging. It is also used as a rubber substitute.	Chloroethylene Polymer,Polychloroethylene,Vinyl Chloride Polymer,Chloroethylene Homopolymer,Geon,PVC,Ultron,Viaflex,Vinylite,Chloride, Polyvinyl,Homopolymer, Chloroethylene,Polymer, Chloroethylene,Polymer, Vinyl Chloride
D004040	Dietary Carbohydrates	Carbohydrates present in food comprising digestible sugars and starches and indigestible cellulose and other dietary fibers. The former are the major source of energy. The sugars are in beet and cane sugar, fruits, honey, sweet corn, corn syrup, milk and milk products, etc.; the starches are in cereal grains, legumes (FABACEAE), tubers, etc. (From Claudio & Lagua, Nutrition and Diet Therapy Dictionary, 3d ed, p32, p277)	Carbohydrates, Dietary,Carbohydrate, Dietary,Dietary Carbohydrate
D004041	Dietary Fats	Fats present in food, especially in animal products such as meat, meat products, butter, ghee. They are present in lower amounts in nuts, seeds, and avocados.	Fats, Dietary,Dietary Fat,Fat, Dietary
D005060	Europe	The continent north of AFRICA, west of ASIA and east of the ATLANTIC OCEAN.	Northern Europe,Southern Europe,Western Europe
D005506	Food Contamination	The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage.	Food Adulteration,Adulteration, Food,Adulterations, Food,Contamination, Food,Contaminations, Food,Food Adulterations,Food Contaminations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013024	Soybean Oil	Oil from soybean or soybean plant.	Soya Oil,Soy Bean Oil,Oil, Soy Bean,Oil, Soya,Oil, Soybean,Oils, Soy Bean,Oils, Soya,Oils, Soybean,Soy Bean Oils,Soya Oils,Soybean Oils