Analysis of Nutritional and Harmful Elements in Powdered Milk by ICPE-9820 / HVG-1

Introduction

Minerals required for infant growth are well balanced in powdered infant formula. According to Japan’s Health Promotion Law, a specific formulation of essential minerals, including calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu), etc., has been established for infant formula as a special-use food, and is required to be displayed on the product label.1) However, the potential adverse effects of certain harmful elements such as arsenic (As) on infant growth and development is of utmost concern, accentuating the importance of strict safety management in the production of infant formula from the raw material stage to the finished product. Here, using the Shimadzu ICPE-9820 simultaneous ICP atomic emission spectrometer, we conducted simultaneous analysis of elements in powdered milk (NMIJ-certified reference material). In addition, high-sensitivity analysis using an HVG-1 hydride vapor generator was conducted for the detection and quantification of the minute levels of arsenic in the sample. The ICPE-9820 permits analysis using both high-sensitivity axial (AX) direction observation and high-concentration radial (RD) observation, thereby allowing simultaneous analysis of elements present at concentrations ranging from very low to high levels. As for detection of arsenic, the HVG-1 permits detection of As at the several tens ng/L trace level.

July 21, 2015 GMT