Heavy Metals Concentration in Infant Formula Food Collected From Local Markets in Fiche, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Back ground: - The majority of milk products in the world undergo processing procedures which is exposed to heavy metals contamination for infant formula products. Exposure to heavy metals can result in long-term effects on health of infants. Objective: To determine heavy metals concentration in powdered infant formula foods collected from local markets in Fiche town, Oromia, Ethiopia. Method and material: Cross sectional study was implemented and 6 imported and 3 domestic formulae selected by simple random sampling technique from three purposively selected highest infant formulae suppliers in Fiche. Totally, 27 samples were analyzed to detect Cd and Pb by MP-AES and HGAAS for Hg from April 30-June 13/2022. Result and Discussion: The concentration of Cd in Cerifam (0.07 ± 0.0451) mg/kg < Faffa (0.11 ± 0.03) mg/kg < Bebelac (0.15 ± 0.05) mg/kg < Mother’s choice (0.19 ± 0.03696) mg/kg < Liptomil (0.29 ± 0 .03) mg/kg < Aptomil (0.42 ± 0.01) mg/kg < S 26 (0.51 ± 0.11) mg/kg < Francelait (0.55 ± 0. 02) mg/kg < NAN (0.6 ± 0.03) mg/kg. Highest concentration of Cd detected in NAN infant formula and the lowest detected in Cerifam. The concentration of Hg in Aptomil (0.0147 ± 0.0031) mg/kg < NAN (0.0183 ± 0.0015) mg/kg < Francelait (0.0193 ± 0.0012) mg/kg < Faffa (0.029 ± 0.0012) mg/kg < Cerifam (0.032 ± 0.002) mg/kg < Liptomil (0.0353 ± 0.0042) mg/kg < S 26 (0.062 ± 0) < Bebelac (0.069 ± 0.0012) mg/kg < Mother’s choice (0.0813 ± 0.0031) mg/kg. The highest concentration of Hg detected in Mother’s choice while lowest detected in Aptomil. The concentration of Pb in S 26 (0.0666 ± 0.0115) mg/kg < Aptomil (0.0667 ± 0.0116) mg/kg = Liptomil (0.0667 ± 0.0116) mg/kg < Francelait (0.20 ± 0) mg/kg < NAN (0.2 ± 0.022) mg/kg <Cerifam (0.2 ± 0.0346) mg/kg < Bebelac (0.267 ± 0.0306) mg/kg < Faffa (0.4666 ± 0.4163) mg/kg < Mother’s choice (0.533 ± 0.1155) mg/kg. Imported formulae contain higher Cd and Hg than domestic products but, higher concentration of Pb detected in domestic products. Based on formula source, higher concentration of Cd, Hg and Pb detected in plant and cow source than plant based powdered infant formulae. Conclusion and Recommendation: All studied infant formula brands didn’t comply with WHO and FAO (Cd 0.05 and Pb 0.01) mg/kg and US EPA (Hg 0.002 mg/kg) standards, so it is compulsory to give attention and regulate contaminants in infant formula foods