Pesticide content of infant formulae and weaning foods available in New Zealand.
A survey of the pesticide content of 25 commercially available infant formulae and 30 weaning foods available in New Zealand was undertaken in 1996. It included a representative mixture of imported and New Zealand manufactured infant foods. Three different pesticide screening techniques were used: a high-sensitivity organochlorine screen was carried out on all infant formulae, while a multiresidue screen (organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides, synthetic pyrethroids, carbamate pesticides, fungicides and herbicides), and a specific screen for dithiocarbamate fungicides were both carried out on all weaning foods and on soy-based infant formulae. All results are expressed on a ready-to-feed basis. Extremely low levels of residues of three organochlorine compounds (p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT and dieldrin) were detected in infant formulae samples. Residues of p,p'-DDE were found in seven of 20 milk-based infant formulae at concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 0.5 microgram kg(-1). Residues of p,p'-DDT were found in one imported milk-based infant formula at 0.7 microgram kg(-1), and dieldrin residues were detected in four of five soy-based infant formulae at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.08 microgram kg(-1). The multiresidue pesticide screen detected low levels of residues of two organophosphorus pesticides; azinphos-methyl in one soy-based infant formula at a level of 22 microgram kg(-1) and pirimiphos-methyl in two cereal-based weaning foods at concentrations of 5 and 14 microgram kg(-1). None of the other approximately 140 pesticides (including fungicides and herbicides) included in the multiresidue screen were detected in any weaning foods or soy-based infant formulae, at a detection limit of 10 microgram kg(-1). No residues of dithiocarbamate fungicides were detected in any product analysed, at a detection limit of 100 microgram kg(-1).
Cressey
P J
PJ
Food Safety Programme, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, 27 Creyke Road, Christchurch 4, New Zealand. cressey@esr.cri.nz
Vannoort
R W
RW
D001387:Azinphosmethyl / Q000032:analysis; D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis; D004026:Dieldrin / Q000032:analysis; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000032:analysis*; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006540:Herbicides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis; D009520:New Zealand; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*
D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D006540:Herbicides; D007306:Insecticides; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D001387:Azinphosmethyl; C014153:pirimiphos methyl; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D003634:DDT; D004026:Dieldrin