Abstract
The aim of this pilot study was to assess the presence and identify potential plastic packaging-associated chemicals and microplastic (MP) particles in two infant food products: one fruit-based and one dairy-based. MPs were found in both product types, with MP concentrations generally being higher across replicate samples of each product than in the procedural blanks. The results indicate that the detected particles originate primarily from the infant food products rather than from laboratory contamination. A range of polymer types were identified across samples, with particles identified as PE being the most detected across both products in almost equal amounts. The occurrence of PE is consistent with its use as the inner food-contact packaging material, suggesting that abrasion or degradation of the packaging may contribute to the MP content in the foodstuff. This is further supported by the observation that the estimated PE per gram of foodstuff is comparable across the two products. Given that PE is also one of the most widely used polymers globally, however, its presence may also reflect contributions from other points in the processing and manufacturing chain rather than the packaging itself. Furthermore, the spectral fingerprint of PE is very similar to that of lipids commonly present naturally in processed food items, and so its identification in this context should be considered as tentative. The presence of polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP) and other polymers may also reflect contributions from other sources/points in the processing and manufacturing chain. Chemical analysis (Nontarget screening) revealed a higher number of tentatively identified chemicals in the plastic packaging than in either foodstuff, with 81 chemicals in the fruit puree and 111 chemicals in the yoghurt also being present in the respective packaging materials. A total of 53 chemicals in the fruit puree and 28 chemicals in the yoghurt were identified in the PlastChem database as being potentially plastic-associated compounds. However, the presence of these chemicals in the foodstuff does not necessarily reflect their migration from the packaging, as they may also have originated from other production steps. The results showed that MP and plastic-associated chemicals were present in both the fruit-based and dairy-based products tested, but targeted studies along the whole production-chain are needed to confirm identification and true origin to provide a robust basis for potential mitigation actions.