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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Methods and Application of Food Composition Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415199
Research Project: Farm to Table Factors: Impact of Production, Processing, and Preparation on Food Composition

Location: Methods and Application of Food Composition Laboratory

Title: Nitrate and nitrite quantification in U.S. vegetable-based baby foods and infant formula via ozone chemiluminescence

Author
item LANGLEY, PINAFFI - University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
item DA COSTA, ANA CLARA - University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
item NGUYEN, HOANG VAN - University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
item WHITEHEAD, DIANE - University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
item ROSELAND, JANET - Consultant
item HEYDORN, KATHERINE - University Of Maryland
item Wu, Xianli
item Pehrsson, Pamela
item HAYS, FRANKLIN - University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
item HORD, NORMAN - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Journal of Food Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/24/2024
Publication Date: 10/25/2024
Citation: Langley, P., Da Costa, A., Nguyen, H.M., Whitehead, D., Roseland, J., Heydorn, K.C., Wu, X., Pehrsson, P.R., Hays, F.A., Hord, N.G. 2024. Nitrate and nitrite quantification in U.S. vegetable-based baby foods and infant formula via ozone chemiluminescence. Journal of Food Science. Volume 137, Part A, 106902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106902.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106902

Interpretive Summary: Nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) are chemicals that infants cannot digest properly. Thus, it is important to see if they are in products infants eat and drink. This paper studied 151 baby foods and 12 infant formulas. Samples were purchased from US grocery stores and analyzed using a sensitive scientific method. We found that nitrate and nitrite varied depending on the products’ brands and flavors. Data was also used to estimate if infants were at risk of consuming too much nitrate and nitrite. Some results were above suggested safety limits. Baby food and infant formula may need to be monitored more strictly. Overall, this paper provides new research helpful for protecting infant health.

Technical Abstract: Determining nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) concentrations in infant diets is crucial due to their potential health implications, especially for infants with immature digestive systems. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of these ions in commercially available vegetable- and fruit-based baby foods and infant formulas in the United States. We evaluated a total of 151 baby foods and 12 infant formulas to determine the quantity of nitrate and nitrite in these food items utilizing ozone chemiluminescence for sensitive detection. The resulting nitrate and nitrite concentrations from foods were used to estimate exposure levels based on hypothetical dietary intakes. Our findings reveal notable variations in nitrate and nitrite concentrations across different brands and types, with some exceeding recommended safety limits. The results underscore the necessity for regular assessment and monitoring of nitrate and nitrite in these foods and stricter regulatory standards to safeguard infant health. This research contributes to the discourse on the safety of nitrate and nitrite in infant foods and formulas and highlights the public health importance of employing advanced analytical methodologies to ensure the health and well-being of infants and other vulnerable populations.