Vitamins A and E content in infant milk-based powdered formulae after opening the packet

Vitamins A and E were determined by HPLC in 20 starting, milk-based powdered infant formulae from local markets. We traced the evolution of these compounds, once the packets had been opened, during 0, 30 and 70 days of storage at room temperature (≈25 °C; min. 23 °C, max. 25.5 °C). Immediately after opening the packets, vitamin A ranged from 0.55 to 0.94 mg RE/100 g (93.3–183 μg RE/100 kcal) and vitamin E from 6.58 to 27.8 mg α-TE/100 g (1.36–5.39 mg α-TE/100 kcal). All the samples had higher vitamins A and E contents than those declared on the label, vitamin A mean adequacy values: 134% ± 17, min. 98%, max. 162%, and vitamin E 185% ± 47, min. 101%, max. 286%, including values at 0, 30 and 70 days of storage.All formulae covered the minimum limits for vitamins A and E established by the current Spanish and European legislations, even after 70 days of storage at room temperature.