Occurrence and bioaccessible fractions of mycotoxins in infant formulas, fruit puree and cereal baby foods: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Food research international Vol. 196; p. 114972
• Main Authors: de Paiva, Esther Lima, Monteiro, Matheus Saliba, Donatelli Muro, Bruno Bracco, Dionísio Freire, Lucas Gabriel, Mendonça, Sibelle Dutra, de Sousa Sardinha, Giovana, de Oliveira, Carlos Augusto Fernandes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Bioaccessibility; In vitro protocols; Infant food; Mycotoxins; In vitro protocols; Bioaccessibility; Infant food; Mycotoxins
• ISSN: 0963-9969
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114972

[Display omitted] •Mycotoxins in infant foods pose significant global health risks, especially for children.•Regulatory focus may overlooks children’s unique vulnerabilities to mycotoxins.•Gap in studies related to mycotoxin bioaccessibility in infant food products.•42 % of infant foods exceeded regulatory limits for mycotoxin levels.•High variability in methods shows need for child-specific gastrointestinal protocols. Mycotoxins, toxic fungal secondary metabolites, pose significant health risks due to their widespread presence in foodstuffs, particularly impacting children through contaminated infant foods. Regulatory assessments often overlook the unique physiological vulnerabilities of children. This study systematically reviews and meta-analyzes mycotoxin bioaccessibility in infant food products. A total of 92 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, with 36 % describing mycotoxin occurrence levels in infant food matrices and 42 % reporting values exceeding regulatory limits. Of the 14 studies assessing the bioaccessible fraction of mycotoxins, 50 % indicated a high risk of exposure, and only 16 % examined mycotoxin co-occurrence in infant foods like formulas, cereals, and purees. The I2 index for bioaccessibility values was 99.47 %, indicating significant variability among methods. This highlights the necessity for future studies focused on developing specific gastrointestinal in vitro protocols for children to establish a baseline for risk analysis of infant foods.