Author/Authors :
Maleki, Javad Department of Food Safety and Hygiene - School of Public Health - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , Nazari, Firouzeh Food and Drug Administration - Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Yousefi, Jamal Department of Food Safety and Hygiene - School of Public Health - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , Khosrokhavar, Roya Food and Drug Laboratory Research Center - Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran , Hosseini, Mir-Jamal Zanjan Applied Pharmacology Research Center - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Abstract :
The contamination of melamine was evaluated in 69 infants along with follow up formula
samples collected from the market for the first time in Iran using HPLC method. Since there are
no previous data concerning the contamination level of melamine in all brands of infant formula
samples consumed using the HPLC method in Iran, this study is the first investigation in this
regard. Our results showed that melamine contamination was found in 65% of samples, where
mean and maximum levels of melamine were 0.73 ± 0.71 mg/kg and 3.63 mg/kg, respectively.
The level of melamine in 10 out of 69 samples was higher than the maximum level set by the
Codex Alimentarius in infant food (1 mg/kg). Melamine was determined in 67.8% and 50% of
domestic and imported samples, respectively. The estimated daily intake was designed in two
scenarios: it was calculated based on the mean level of melamine contamination and maximum
level of melamine in the samples. In both scenarios, our results showed that melamine intake
across all age groups is lower than the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.2 mg/kg body weight,
suggested by WHO (0.2 mg/kg body weight). Thus, it seems that the current levels of melamine
in infant and follow up formula purchased in Iran pose no health risk for infants.
Keywords :
HPLC , Exposure assessment , Follow up formula , Infant formula , Melamine
