Food

New Findings Reported from ANSES Describe Advances in Alkaline Earth Metals

  2012 MAY 17 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to the authors of a study from Maisons Alfort, France, "A total of 28 minerals and trace elements from 1319 food samples typically consumed by the French population were determined during the second French Total Diet Study (TDS). Among the main trace elements analysed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave-assisted digestion, strontium (Sr), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), tellurium (Te), gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge) and vanadium (V) were retained for this work and their occurrence data reported here."

  "The contents were compared using data from worldwide total diet studies. Data for tin in canned food and beverages were compared with European guidelines. The food groups with the highest levels were 'Sweeteners, honey and confectionery' with dark chocolate (for Sr, Ag, Sn, To, Ba, Fe Ga, Ge and V), 'Fish and fish products' and particularly 'Shellfish' (for Sr (14.3 mg kg(-1)), Ag (5.18 mg kg(-1)), Ga (0.002 mg kg(-1)), Ge (0.004 mg kg(-1)), To (0.003 mg kg(-1)) and V (0.234 mg kg(-1))), 'Tofu' (for Sr (2.71 mg kg(-1)), Fe (29.0 mg kg(-1)) and Ba (0.824 mg kg(-1))), 'Ice cream' (Ba (0.621 mg kg(-1)), Fe (45.5 mg kg(-1)), Ag (0.193 mg kg(-1))) and 'Fat and oil' (for Te, Ga and Ge)," wrote S. Millour and colleagues, ANSES.

  The researchers concluded: "Moreover, the highest concentrations of Sn were found in 'Fruits and vegetables' (0.522 mg kg(-1))."

  Millour and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis (Strontium, silver, tin, iron, tellurium, gallium, germanium, barium and vanadium levels in foodstuffs from the Second French Total Diet Study. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2012;25(2):108-129).

  For more information, contact S. Millour, ANSES, Direct Evaluat Risques, Unite Appui & Etud Relatifs Subst, Agence Natl Securite Sanit Alimentat Environm & T, F-94706 Maisons Alfort, France.

  Publisher contact information for the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis is: Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA.

  Keywords: City:Maisons Alfort, Country:France, Region:Europe, Transition Elements, Alkaline Earth Metals

  This article was prepared by VerticalNews Food editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2012, VerticalNews Food via VerticalNews.com.