Summary
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has carried out a surveillance study of infant food and infant juices available on the Irish market for the possible presence of pesticide residues, in order to establish levels of compliance with existing legislation in this area. This survey follows on from a previous study carried out by FSAI in 2004. The legislation on processed food for infants and young children ensures that these products generally contain no, or extremely low levels of, pesticide residues, in order to ensure maximum health protection for this vulnerable group of the population. Pesticide residue levels in processed food for infants and young children should not exceed a Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of 0.01 mg/kg (0.01 parts per million, ppm) for the majority of individual pesticides and even lower levels apply to certain specified pesticides.
50 samples of baby food, comprising juices, jars and boxes (cereal/meat/fruit/vegetable based) were analysed in this survey. Samples purchased were “ready to eat”, and were analysed as such, or sold in the dry form, requiring reconstitution before use. In the case of the latter, samples were
analysed in the reconstituted form in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions. A total of 386 pesticides were included in the survey.
Of the 50 samples tested for 386 pesticide compounds, representing 19,300 individual results, a total of ten positive results for the presence of residues were obtained. These residues comprised o-phenylphenol, piperonylbutoxide, fenhexamide, maleic hydrazide,
propylenethiourea / ethylenethiourea (PTU/ETU) and diphenylamine. However, only two out of ten residues detected were above the MRL established for these pesticides in baby food. The two residues detected above the MRL were o-phenylphenol, found in one product, and maleic hydrazide which was detected in two separate products.
Follow up investigations in the case of o-phenylphenol showed that the presence of the residue was not as a result of the use of o-phenylphenol as a plant protection product, but as a result of its presence in the packaging material of the baby food. As a result of this finding, the manufacturer
of the baby food products has notified his packaging suppliers and new specifications have been drawn up for the packaging materials used in the manufacture of this product.
Maleic hydrazide was detected in two separate products at concentrations of 0.1mg/kg and 0.7mg/kg. In the case of the product containing maleic hydrazide at 0.1mg/kg, investigations carried out by the manufacturer have revealed that the source of the residue was an onion powder used in
the recipe. As a result the manufacturer has switched to a different onion powder supplier and has taken all necessary steps to correct the problem.
In the case of the second product, which contained maleic hydrazide at 0.7 mg/kg, all suppliers of the ingredients used in its manufacture have indicated that no maleic hydrazide was used on their raw materials. However, as a result of these findings the baby food manufacturer has set up a
system of positive release to include testing for maleic hydrazide on the four raw ingredients present in the product and in addition full supplier agronomy audits will take place later this year.
FSAI considers that the residue levels found in the products concerned presented no risk to infants and young children. The manufacturers involved have taken appropriate follow up action 3 and have put in place the relevant checks and safeguards in order to ensure that this problem does
not occur in the future. The FSAI is satisfied that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure legal compliance with the requirements of S.I. 242 of 2004 and S.I. 433 of 2004 as they relate to levels of pesticides. Overall the results of the study show good compliance with the existing legislation on pesticide residues in baby food and FSAI will continue to monitor such products for pesticide residues and other chemical contaminants, in order to safeguard the health of Irish children.
