Monitoring programme on nitrates in vegetables and vegetable-based baby foods marketed in the Region of Valencia, Spain: levels and estimated daily intake.
This study was carried out to determine the current levels of nitrates in vegetables and vegetable-based baby foods (a total of 1150 samples) marketed in the Region of Valencia, Spain, over the period 2000-2008, and to estimate the toxicological risk associated with their intake. Average (median) levels of nitrate in lettuce, iceberg-type lettuce and spinach (1156, 798 and 1410 mg kg(-1) w/w, respectively) were lower than the maximum limits established by European Union legislation. Thirteen fresh spinach samples exceeded the regulatory limits. Median nitrate values in other vegetables for which a maximum limit has not been fixed by the European Commission were 196, 203, 1597, 96, 4474 and 2572 mg kg(-1) w/w (for potato, carrot, chard, artichoke, rucola and lamb's lettuce, respectively). The estimated nitrate daily intakes through vegetables consumption for adult, extreme consumers and children were found to be about 29%, 79.8% and 15.1%, respectively, of the acceptable daily intake (3.7 mg kg(-1)). The levels (median = 60.4 mg kg(-1) w/w) found in vegetable-based baby foods were, in all cases, lower the maximum level proposed by European Union legislation. The estimated nitrate daily intake through baby foods for infants between 0-1 and 1-2 years of age were 13% and 18%, respectively, of the acceptable daily intake.
Pardo-Marín
O
O
Conselleria de Sanitat, Food Safety Area, Public Health Laboratory of Valencia, Public Health Research Center (CSISP), 46020 Valencia, Spain. polgueta@gmail.com
Yusà-Pelechà
V
V
Villalba-Martín
P
P
Perez-Dasí
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D031943:Cynara scolymus / Q000737:chemistry; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000737:chemistry; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018545:Lactuca / Q000737:chemistry; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry; D013030:Spain; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000737:chemistry; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
D009566:Nitrates