Overview
Almeida and colleagues measured 14 minerals by ICP-MS in 30 samples (10 formulas, three batches each) of cow-milk-based powdered infant formula sold in Rio de Janeiro, and compared them with label statements and legal minimum and maximum levels. The trace elements include chromium, cobalt, manganese, copper, zinc, iron, molybdenum and selenium. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury were not measured.
Key numbers
- Chromium 0.023 to 0.042 mg/100 g powder across the 10 formulas (Table 2).
- Manganese 0.279 to “0.483 ± 0.333” mg/100 g (Table 2).
- Cobalt 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/100 g in every formula (Table 2).
Methods (brief)
About 100 mg powder digested with sub-boiled nitric acid, then ICP-MS. Accuracy was checked with skimmed and non-fat milk powder reference materials. Values are means of three batches, each run in quintuplicate.
Evidence Fitness
A small but well-controlled retail set with certified reference materials. The paper covers essential minerals only, not toxic metals. Soy-based formulas were excluded by the study’s inclusion criteria, so this cow-milk formula paper is only a proxy for soy-based-infant-formula and is not linked to that page.