Determination of fluoride levels in soft drinks, fruit juices and milk consumed by the population in Kuwait using an ion-selective electrode

Fluoride is an important anion present in various environmental, chemical and food samples. It is widely used in various branches of industry, and some fluoride compounds are formed as by-products in certain processes. Excessive amounts of fluoride in different compounds can enter the human body by means of polluted air, water and the food chain. Determination of fluoride in 86 food samples was performed by using an ion-selective electrode, as this method is simple, rapid and reliable. Fluoride concentrations were determined in the most-consumed fruit juices, soft drinks and milk samples among the population of Kuwait. A total of 15 soft drink samples available in the Kuwaiti markets were analyzed. The fluoride contents ranged from 0.05 - 0.15mg/L, with an average of 0.06 mg/L. From the producer KDD, 16 fruit juice samples were selected from the markets and analyzed for fluoride content. The fluoride level ranged from 0.05 -0.20 mg/L, within an average of 0.08 mg/L. The 32 other main brands of fruit juices available in the supermarkets were analyzed for fluoride content and found to be in the range of 0.03 - 0.15 mg/L, within an average of 0.05 mg/L. The total 23 samples from different brands of milk were selected and analyzed, finding fluoride levels in the range of 0.02 - 1.20 mg/L with an average of 0.08 mg/L. Fluoride concentration in all soft drinks, fruit juices and milk samples were within the safe level.