Reliable solutions for tracking furan and its derivatives in infant food

Context

Furan and two of its derivatives, 2-Methylfuran (2-MF) and 3-Methylfuran (3-MF), are found in infant foods. Because these compounds are potentially carcinogenic, they pose a risk to children under three. A lack of reliable and robust methods for quantifying these compounds reveals a pressing need to develop a method to meet the requirements of food safety authorities and manufacturers.

Results

This research consisted in comparing the performance of two headspace extraction methods – headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and static headspace extraction (SHS) – when coupled to gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). Both analytical options were validated using the accuracy profile approach on fruit purees and powdered infant formula. The SHS-GC-HRMS coupling was more effective for the targeted quantification of furan compounds. This method was used to determine furan, 2-MF and 3-MF levels in a wide range of infant foods, including vegetable-based infant meals, fruit purees, infant cereals and powdered infant formula. Vegetablebased infant meals, whether or not they were mixed with fish or meat, were found to have the highest levels of these three compounds and to be a major contributor to the risk related to furan for infant over six months. Meanwhile, the SPME-GC-HRMS coupling proved to be better for exploring other furan derivatives likely to be generated at the same time as furan, 2-MF and 3-MF. This nontargeted method identified 13 other furan derivatives in the foods analysed, including five that had never been reported in this type of product.

Future outlook

The high levels found in vegetablebased infant meals show an urgent need to find realistic and easy-toimplement mitigation strategies including mild industrial processes and home practices to reduce the significant risk associated with furan compounds in these products. Additionally, although the levels detected in powdered infant formula appear to be more moderate, a recent regulatory change requires enriching these products with polyunsaturated fatty acids (which are precursors of furan compounds). As a result, more research is needed on the impact of formulation and storage conditions of these powdered infant formula on the potential generation of furan and its derivatives.

Partnerships

HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG, Pfaffenhofen, Allemagne

Yiotis Anonimos Emporiki & Viomixaniki Etaireia, Athènes, Grèce

Support project

Projet H2020 SAFFI (SAFe Food for Infants in the EU and China, 2020-2024) coordonné par l’UR QuaPA (E. Engel).

Contacts

Erwan Engel and Jérémy Ratel UR QuaPA erwan.engel@inrae.fr jeremy.ratel@inrae.fr