Survey of baby foods for mycotoxins

A survey of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and patulin in a variety of foods for infants and young children was carried out by the Agency between November 2003 and April 2004.

A total of 199 foods, including breakfast/rusk products, baby rice, savoury products and desert/cereal bar/biscuits were sampled. Of these, 169 were analysed for aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. A further 14 products were analysed for patulin as well and 16 products, including apple-based drinks and apple fruit products, were tested for patulin only, as patulin is much more likely to occur in these products compared with the other mycotoxins studied.

Mycotoxins were not detectable in 90% of the products analysed. In those samples where mycotoxins were detectable, levels were very low and regulatory limits were not exceeded in any of them.

Data from the survey were used to assess the exposure of infants to mycotoxins and these do not raise a concern for infant health.

The legal limits for mycotoxins in infant foods apply only to foods available on the retail market which are clearly labelled as being intended for infants or young children up to 3 years old and comply with nutritional requirements set down in European Umion law. The limits do not apply to products that are not labelled as baby foods but are marketed with advertising material that is designed to appeal to young children.