Determination of saturated-hydrocarbon contamination in baby foods by using on-line liquid–gas chromatography and off-line liquid chromatography-comprehensive gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry

The present contribution describes an investigation directed towards the use of a rapid heart-cutting multidimensional LC–GC–FID method for the analysis of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH), contained in different types of homogenized solid baby food (fish, meat and fruit products). The fish and meat products all contained vegetable oil (sunflower), potentially an important source of mineral-oil contamination. Sixteen commercial baby food samples were subjected to analysis, with various degrees of MOSH contamination (from 0.3 mg/kg to circa 14 mg/kg) found. Hence, MOSH contamination was found not only in the meat and fish products, but also in the fruit ones. A fruit-based baby food was lab-made, using the ingredients reported on the commercial product, and was found to be contaminated. The single ingredients were then subjected to LC–GC analysis, with corn starch and sugar found to be the source of contamination. For confirmation of the analytical findings, three of the sixteen samples were analyzed in two separate laboratories, using two distinct LC–GC methods, based on different interfaces.The results were confirmed, in qualitative terms, by collecting the LC fractions, relative to some of the food samples, and subjecting them to comprehensive two-dimensional GC-quadrupole mass spectrometry. Thus, mass spectral data were attained for the saturated hydrocarbons.

► An on-line LC–GC–FID method is used for the determination of MOSH contamination in baby food.
► An off-line LC–GC × GC–MS was exploited to confirm the contamination.
► The MOSH contamination in the baby foods was confirmed in an independent laboratory.
► All the commercial samples analyzed were contaminated, at various levels.