The Investigation of Mycotoxins and Enterobacteriaceae of Cereal-Based Baby Foods Marketed in Turkey

In this study, a total of 85 cereal-based baby foods with or without milk (four different brands; A, B, C, and D) collected from Ankara local markets, Turkey were analyzed for mycotoxins, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB), and Enterobacteriaceae contamination. Baby foods were analyzed for 12 toxicological important mycotoxins such as aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2; fumonisin B1 and B2; ochratoxin A; sterigmatocystin (STE); deoxynivalenol (DON); zearalenone (ZON); and T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin by LC-MS/MS multi-mycotoxin method. In addition to these mycotoxins, the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was investigated in baby foods containing milk. The classical culture method was used for microbiological analysis. Consequently, at least one mycotoxin was detected in 69.41% of the total samples. The most frequently detected mycotoxins were STE (34.12%) and HT-2 (34.12%). However, AFM1 was not detected in any of the baby foods containing milk. Also, TAMB and Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from 30.59% and 10.59% of samples, respectively. As a result, it was determined that the mycotoxin levels in the analyzed samples were in accordance with the mycotoxin levels specified in the Turkish Food Codex.

Comparative analysis of chemical contamination of baby foods and primary pediatric morbidity

The safety of baby foods is key to a child’s health, which, in turn, is one of the prioritized national goals. As they grow, children get exposed to numerous negative environmental impacts. Chemical contamination of baby foods can increase pediatric morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate possible correlations between baby food contamination and primary pediatric morbidity using data on 65 Russian regions collected in 2012–2017 by the Russian Federal Information Public Health Surveillance Foundation. The data were processed in Microsoft Word 2010 and Microsoft Excel 2010. Of 67,940 samples of baby foods analyzed for chemical contamination, priority pollutants (toxic element) were detected in 14.1%. The most contaminated were fruit and vegetable purees (47.1%), followed by milk formulas and cultured dairy products (19.9%). We also analyzed 32,914 indicators of pediatric morbidity. The Pearson correlation analysis detected reliable correlations between baby food contamination and the primary incidence of endocrine disorders in infants, as well as the primary incidence of obesity, diabetes mellitus and cancer in children aged 0 to 14 years.

Assessment of Benefits and Risks of Probiotics in Processed Cereal-based Baby Foods Lactobacillus Paracasei ssp. Paracasei F19

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) has appointed an ad hoc-group of experts to answer a request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority regarding benefit and risk assessment of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19 (F19) in processed cerealbased baby foods intended for small children 1-3 years. This assessment is based on the literature provided by the notifier as well as that found by a MEDLINE search. A notification regarding two products of processed cereal-based baby foods (hereafter called cereals), intended for small children and supplemented with the bacterium F19 initiated this work. A daily supply of a monoculture of a particular bacterial strain in large quantities to an age group without a fully established intestinal flora, may have unknown adverse effects. There are however, to our knowledge, no studies investigating possible short or long term adverse health effects of F19 in processed cereal-based baby food given to children 13 months onwards. The documentation and information provided by the notifier regarding the genetic stability of F19 in the two products during processing and storage, is considered insufficient and does not allow any conclusions to be drawn. Moreover, the documentation obtained is not conclusive regarding the antibiotic resistance pattern of the bacterial strain used in the products in question, as the information on different antibiotics is partly inconsistent. The information about specific localization (chromosomal, plasmid) of the resistance genes is not sufficient. Studies demonstrate that F19, as well as other bacterial strains considered probiotic, is able to “crosstalk” with enterocytes in mice and that the result of the “crosstalk” depends upon the microbiota present. Whether F19 has a similar “crosstalk-profile” in humans is unknown. However, as the strain is originally of human origin, it seems reasonable to assume that such “crosstalk” may occur. Thus, before giving F19 daily for months and years, it seems reasonable to ask for additional molecular and physiological studies to unravel the functional impact of possible changes in genetic expression in children. Lactobacillus infections do occasionally occur, mainly as bacteremia, endocarditis and localized infections (e.g. abscesses, peritonitis, and meningitis) in patients with severe underlying diseases. Most of them are elderly, but children are not excluded. The species most often isolated are L. casei and L. rhamnosus, followed by L. paracasei. The increasing use of immunosuppressive therapy and broad spectrum antibiotics which are ineffective against Lactobacillus, might increase the importance of these bacteria as possible pathogens. In order to be able to draw any conclusions regarding beneficial effects of F19, there is a need for randomized placebo-controlled studies in larger populations and in the relevant age group. According to EFSA, Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19 is sufficiently characterized. The documentation provided is, however, not sufficient to claim positive health effects and thus F19 is not proven to be probiotic. There are no published dose-response studies of F19 in children, neither regarding survival of F19 in the gastrointestinal tract, nor possible negative health effects. Thus the potential for negative health effects as e.g. spreading of antimicrobial resistance or unfavourable impact on the genetic expression in children related to the frequency and/or dose of a monoculture of F19 cannot be assessed.

Assessment of Benefits and Risks of Probiotics in Processed Cerealbased Baby Foods Bifidobacterium Lactis Bb12

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) has appointed an ad hoc-group of experts to answer a request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority regarding benefit and risk assessment of B. lactis Bb12 in baby foods focusing on the age groups 4-6 months, 612 months and 1-3 years. This assessment is based on the literature provided by the notifier as well as that found by a MEDLINE search. An notification for use of processed cereal-based baby foods (from now on called cereals) intended for infants and small children supplemented with the microorganism Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) Bb12 in Norway initiated this work. Studies of potential hazards and positive health effects from cereals containing B. lactis Bb12 intended for infants and young children have not been reported in the available literature. However, reports on safety of and positive health effects from infant and follow on formula supplemented with B. lactis Bb12 are available and have been assessed by VKM. In most of these clinical studies B. lactis Bb12 was administered in combination with other probiotic strains. Clinical studies report no serious adverse events of infant formula supplemented with B. lactis Bb12. The effect of long term daily consumption of such supplemented formula by the actual age groups is not known. A few studies have demonstrated some effect of supplementing baby food with probiotics, including B. lactis Bb12, on diarrhoea and atopic eczema while other studies do not show such effects. Thus, the scientific evidence for a favourable effect of supplementing formula or solid food with B. lactis Bb12, is weak and in some cases lacking. There are no studies demonstrating a positive effect of cereals supplemented with B. lactis Bb12 intended for infants and small children. Several health claims related to probiotics have been assessed by EFSA, including claims on reduction of gastro-intestinal discomfort, normal functioning of the alimentary tract, building of the natural intestinal barrier, improvement of the general immunity, mental and cognitive developments of children and immune system of children during growth. In the opinions so far, EFSA has concluded that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of the probiotic containing products and the claimed effect. None of the products assessed so far contained B. lactis Bb12 (1 November 2009). Commercially produced cereals are frequent given to infants and small children in Norway from an early age and this is particularly important for the establishment of the intestinal bacterial flora and the development of the intestinal mucosal immune system. According to the notifier, one portion (25gram) of the cereal powder contains 1 x 109 B. lactis Bb12 in monoculture. Taking into consideration that the daily intake is often greater than one portion of cereals, even in infants below 6 months of age, this would represent a daily intake of 1-2 x 109 cfu B. lactis Bb12 for an infant 4-6 months and even more in infants above 6 months. If a considerable amount of the B. lactis Bb12 survives the transport to the small intestine, it would represent a dominating and monocultural supply, often several times a day, to the small intestine. The immaturity and vulnerability of the intestinal microbiota and the immune system makes the two lowest age groups, 4 – 6 and 6 – 12 months, at the highest risk of unwanted health effects due to the daily intake of probiotics.