ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN FIVE DIFFERENT BABY FOODS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Infant formulae as food supplements has a part to play in the diets of infants that is very important, in the sense that it provides the body with minerals and vitamins that are required in a larger quantity. Since infant milk is primarily derived from animals or plants, it is therefore mostly milk, soya or cereal-based. Infant formula almost has the whole nutrient requirements that are in breast milk, although it is difficult to produce a formula equal in all respects to breast milk. Studies have reported contamination of infant formula milk by various substances such as nitrates, nitrites, aluminium, cadmium, mercury, nickel, lead and melamine (Akan et al., 2010). Water that is used to reconstitute the infant formula milk can also be a source of contaminants such as lead and nitrate ion. In 2008 melamine contamination of infant formula milk in China led to deaths and illness to several infants. Other cases of recall of infant formula milk in developed world as a result of deficiency in necessary nutrients and contamination have also been reported. In 2006 Mead Johnson and Company recalled a batch of its infant formula milk due to contamination with metal particles (Ayivor et al., 2011). A study to determine the concentration of selected trace and toxic elements in breast milk and infant formula milk reported the concentrations in infant formula milk to be tenfold higher than in breast milk, thus confirming infant formula milk as an exposure route of toxic elements to infants (IOM, 2010).