Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in baby food

Dioxins and PCBs were analysed by the Food Standards Agency in retail samples of baby foods purchased in 2003.

Upper bound concentrations of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in the samples of baby foods were in the range 0.02 to 5.6 nanograms WHO-TEQ/kg fat basis.

Concentrations of dioxins in all of the milk-, meat-, egg- and fish-based products sampled are within the appropriate European Union limits for these food types. There are no EU limits applicable to grain-, rice-, rusk, fruit- and vegetable-based products.

The estimated total average and high level upper bound intakes by babies of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (combined) from the baby foods were 0.2 and 0.7 picograms WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day at 4 months. These intakes compared with 0.2 and 0.8 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day at the age of seven months and 0.2 and 0.6 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day at the age of 12 months, as the baby grows and its diet changes.

These intake estimates relate to the consumption of baby foods and infant formulae only and do not take account of intake via breast milk and other foods. Where babies were fed fish-based products, these made the most significant contribution to total dietary intakes.

Upper bound intakes were estimated to be within the UK safety guideline (Tolerable Daily Intake) of 2 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bodyweight/day set in November 2001 by the Government’s independent advisory Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food Consumer Products and the Environment (COT).