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In this study, a total of 30 elements (essential and non-essential or toxic) were determined in 25 foods consumed in Italy by children aged 0–6 months and produced in Europe. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry were used as measurement techniques for the elements of interest. The estimated intakes for one-year-old infants were compared with risk estimators and nutritional requirements. Data indicate that commercially available baby food in Italy provides an excellent contribution for Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ca, K, and P, covering up to approximately 70% of the adequate intake (AI) for an infant aged 6–12 months. The intake of detectable toxic elements was always below the safety limit: even the most concentrated toxic elements never exceeded about 86% of the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI). This result indicates that the analyzed baby food is of good quality and does not pose risks to children's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural (40K) and anthropogenic (137Cs) radioactivity concentration in four different typologies of early childhood (up to two years old) foods, i.e., homogenized fruit, homogenized meat, childhood biscuits and baby pasta, produced in Italy and sold in Italian large retailers, was investigated through High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. The present study is carried out with the aim to: (i) evaluate the background levels of the investigated radionuclides in the analyzed early childhood foods, (ii) identify whether the twenty analyzed samples were appropriate for infant consumption and (iii) contribute to construct a database on the radioactivity of early childhood foods sold in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this secondary analysis is to describe the types of commercial complementary foods (CCF) consumed by infants and young children enrolled in the European Childhood Obesity Project (CHOP), to describe the contribution of CCF to dietary energy intakes and to determine factors associated with CCF use over the first 2 years of life. Methods: The CHOP trial is a multicenter intervention trial in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Poland and Spain that tested the effect of varying levels of protein in infant formula on the risk for childhood obesity. Infants were recruited from October 2002 to June 2004. Dietary data on CCF use for this secondary analysis were taken from weighted, 3-day dietary records from 1088 infants at 9 time points over the first 2 years of life. Results: Reported energy intakes from CCF during infancy (4–9 months) was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.002) amongst formula-fed children compared to breastfed children. Sweetened CCF intakes were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.009) amongst formula-fed infants. Female infants were fed significantly less CCF and infant age was strongly associated with daily CCF intakes, peaking at 9 months of age. Infants from families with middle- and high-level of education were fed significantly less quantities of CCF compared to infants with parents with lower education. Sweetened CCF were very common in Spain, Italy and Poland, with over 95% of infants and children fed CCF at 9 and 12 months of age consuming at least one sweetened CCF. At 24 months of age, 68% of the CHOP cohort were still fed CCF. Conclusions: CCF comprised a substantial part of the diets of this cohort of European infants and young children. The proportion of infants being fed sweetened CCF is concerning. More studies on the quality of commercial complementary foods in Europe are warranted, including market surveys on the saturation of the Western European market with sweetened CCF products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid esters of 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD), 2-MCPD and glycidol (Gly) are food-processing contaminants that cause concerns about possible adverse health effects. The present study evaluates the contamination levels of the three ester classes in 130 samples of foodstuffs marketed in Italy covering 10 food categories, namely margarines, oils, roasted coffee, breakfast cereals, salted crackers, cookies, infant biscuits, rusks, breads and potato crisps. The analytical method employed is a so-called indirect method that entails MCPD/glycidol cleavage from their esterified forms, cleanup, derivatisation and GC-MS analysis. The MCPDs and glycidol concentrations (from esters) were found to be equal or a little higher than the levels reported in previous studies conducted in other European countries and described in the literature. 3-MCPD was the predominant compound in all foodstuffs analysed with the exception for rusks where Gly levels were slightly higher. Considering the sum of MCPD and Gly esters, the most contaminated foodstuffs were seed oils, followed by margarines and cookies, whereas roasted coffee, bread, rusks, cornflakes and infant biscuits were less contaminated with MCPDs and Gly concentrations often below LOQ or LOD values. Refined olive oil, potato chips and salted crackers showed contamination levels intermediate between the two above groups. The results of this study also confirm that the use of palm oil as an ingredient or frying medium is an important cause of increase of the levels of MCPD and Gly esters, especially in salted crackers, rusks and potato crisps. Finally, the Italian intake of 3-MCPD due to the various foods analysed has been calculated and related to TDI. The MoE for Gly was also estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study compared the profile of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, frequently occurred in food, in milk (N = 22) and meat/fish based (N = 18) baby foods available on the Italian market. PAH total levels, markers (Regulation EC/835/2011) and carcinogenic PAHs were determined by high- performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FD). The average of total PAHs was 52.25 μg kg −1 in milk and 11.82 μg kg −1 in meat/fish based baby foods. The levels of PAH markers were higher than the permissible EU limits of 1 μg kg −1 in 18.2% and 77.7% milk, and 5.6% and 44.4% meat/fish based baby foods. Milk based samples showed significant higher values (P < 0.05) of carcinogenic and possible carcinogenic hydrocarbons than meat/fish based products. The Margins of Exposure (MOE) value of milk based baby food samples indicated a potential concern for consumer health. Monitoring programs, and good agriculture and manufacture practices should be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current practice regarding complementary feeding (CF) is influenced by socio-cultural background. Our group already investigated the Italian approach to CF in the years 2015-2017. Our aim was to update those data by finding out: if the habits have changed nationwide, how the trends changed in each area, and if the differences between regions still exist. We devised and submitted to Italian primary care paediatricians (PCP) a questionnaire consisting of four items regarding the suggestions they gave to families about CF and compared the results to the ones from our previous survey. We collected 595 responses. Traditional weaning was the most recommended method, with a significant reduction compared to the period of 2015-2017 (41% vs. 60%); conversely, the proportion of PCP endorsing baby-led weaning (BLW) or traditional spoon-feeding with adult food tastings has increased, while the endorsement of commercial baby foods dropped. BLW is still more popular in the North and Centre compared to the South (24.9%, 22.3%, and 16.7%, respectively). The age to start CF and the habit of giving written information have not changed over time. Our results highlighted that Italian paediatricians encourage BLW and traditional CF with adult tastings more than in the past, at the expense of traditional spoon-feeding.

Background Adequate complementary feeding is recognized as an important predictor of health later in life. The objective of this study was to describe the feeding practices and nutrients' intake, and their association with breastfeeding at six months of age, in a cohort of infants enrolled at birth in the maternity hospital of Trieste, Italy. Methods Out of 400 infants enrolled at birth, 268 (67%) had complete data gathered through a 24-hour feeding diary on three separate days at six months, and two questionnaires administered at birth and at six months. Data from feeding diaries were used to estimate nutrients' intakes using the Italian food composition database included in the software. To estimate the quantity of breastmilk, information was gathered on the frequency and length of breastfeeds. Results At six months, 70% of infants were breastfed and 94% were given complementary foods. The average daily caloric intake was higher in non-breastfed (723 Kcal) than in breastfed infants (547 Kcal, p < 0.001) due to energy provided by complementary foods (321 vs. 190 Kcal, p < 0.001) and milk (363 vs. 301 Kcal, p = 0.007). Non-breastfed infants had also higher intakes of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The mean intake of macronutrients was within recommended ranges in both groups, except for the higher protein intake in non-breastfed infants. These consumed significantly higher quantities of commercial baby foods than breastfed infants. Conclusions Contrary to what is recommended, 94% of infants were not exclusively breastfed and were given complementary foods at six months. The proportion of daily energy intake from complementary foods was around 50% higher than recommended and with significant differences between breastfed and non-breastfed infants, with possible consequences for future nutrition and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study a total of 75 commercially Italian samples of baby foods, including 13 infant formula milks (infant formula powders, ready-to-use preparation), 11 dairy products (cheese and yogurt), 25 cereal-based baby foods, 16 fruit and vegetables compotes, and 10 fruit and vegetables purees (composed of pear, peach, banana and for apple), were analyzed to provide an overview on mycotoxin presence. The presence was carried out by evaluating of 23 mycotoxins: ochratoxin-A (OTA), patulin (PAT), two aflatoxins (AFM1, AFB1), three zearalenones (ZONs), which include zearalenone (ZON) and its metabolites (α-zearalenol (α-ZOL) and β-zearalenol (β-ZOL)), nine trichothecenes: deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON and 15-ADON), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), nivalenol (NIV), fusarenon-X (FUS-X), T-2 toxin (T-2) and HT-2 toxin (HT-2), and five emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), and beauvericin (BEA). Analytical results showed that 31% of cereal-based baby foods presented levels of mycotoxins. The frequencies of detected mycotoxins, OTA, DON, HT-2, FUS-X, NIV, β-ZOL, ENB, ENB1, ENB4, ENA1 and, BEA, in analyzed samples were 20%, 21%, 3%, 24%, 4%, 7%, 15%, 1%, 5%, 4%, and 1%, respectively. The high value registered was for a cereal-based baby food which contained 832 μg/kg of ENB. 27% of analyzed samples presented co-occurrence of different mycotoxins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The current paper aims to present the main results of the Italian National Food Consumption Survey INRAN-SCAI 2005-06. Design: A cross-sectional study was performed. Households were randomly selected after geographical stratification of the national territory. Food consumption was assessed on three consecutive days through individual estimated dietary records. Setting: Italy. Subjects: The final study sample comprised 3323 subjects (1501 males and 1822 females) aged 0·1 to 97·7 years belonging to 1329 households: fifty-two infants (0-2·9 years), 193 children (3-9·9 years), 247 teenagers (10-17·9 years), 2313 adults (18-64·9 years) and 518 elderly (65 years and above). Results: Participation rate was 33 %. The mean ratio of estimated energy intake to estimated BMR was 1·41 in adults. Indicators of mean and high individual consumption are presented for fifteen large categories and fifty-one subcategories of foods and beverages, in the total population and in consumers, by age and sex categories. The overall consumption of fruit and vegetables was 418 g/d. The consumption of red meat was approximately 700 g/week, expressed as raw weight. Some specific aspects of the Italian food consumption pattern were confirmed: a large contribution from bread, pasta and pizza to cereals, from olive oil to fats and from wine to alcoholic beverages. Conclusions: The database obtained from the survey will be the key reference for Italian food consumption during the coming years and will be utilized for a variety of purposes including the assessment of nutrient intakes and risk analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive, accurate and precise method for the simultaneous determination of nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2) and HT-2 toxin (HT-2) in different food matrices, including wheat, maize, barley, cereal-based infant foods, snacks, biscuits and wafers, has been developed. The method, using liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS/MS), allowed unambiguous identification of the selected trichothecenes at low µg per kg levels in such complex food matrices. A clean-up procedure, based on reversed phase SPE Oasis® HLB columns, was used, allowing good recoveries for all studied trichothecenes. In particular, NIV recoveries significantly improved compared to those obtained by using Mycosep® #227 columns for clean-up of the extracts. Limits of detection in the various investigated matrices ranged 2.5-4.0 µg kg-1 for NIV, 2.8-5.3 µg kg-1 for DON, 0.4-1.7 µg kg-1 for HT-2 and 0.4-1.0 µg kg-1 for T-2. Mean recovery values, obtained from cereals and cereal products spiked with NIV, DON, HT-2 and T-2 toxins at levels from 10 to 1000 µg kg-1, ranged from 72 to 110% with mean relative standard deviation lower than 10%. A systematic investigation of matrix effects in different cereals and cereal products was also carried out by statistically comparing the slopes of standard calibration curve with matrix-matched calibration curve for each of the four toxins and the eight matrices tested. For seven of the eight matrices tested, statistically significant matrix effects were observed, indicating that, for accurate quantitative analysis, matrix-matched calibration was necessary. The method was applied to the analysis of 57 samples of ground wheat originated from South Italy and nine cereal food samples collected from retail markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the use and cost of health care in infants with different feeding patterns. Methods: Observational study on a cohort of 842 infants born in ten hospitals in northern Italy and followed up to age 12 months. Data on feeding gathered through telephone interviews with 24-hour recall. Data on use of health services reported by mothers and checked against records. Data on hospital cost derived from Disease Related Groups codes. Data on cost of other services obtained from maternal reports and available price lists. Results: At three months, 56% of infants were fully breastfed, 17% complementary fed and 27% not breastfed. Infants fully breastfed at three months had 4.90 episodes of illness requiring ambulatory care and 0.10 hospital admissions per infant/year compared with 6.02 and 0.17, respectively, in infants not or not fully breastfed. They had also a lower cost of health care: €34.69 versus 54.59 per infant/year for ambulatory care, and €133.53 versus 254.03 per infant/year for hospital care. Higher cost of health care was significantly associated with having a hospital admission and being a twin; cost of health care decreased with each additional gram of birth weight, each month of delayed return of the mother to work after the third month, and each extra month of breastfeeding. Conclusion: Lack of breastfeeding and higher use and cost of health care are significantly associated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate infant feeding practices through the first year of life in Italy, and to identify factors associated with the duration of breastfeeding and early introduction of solid foods.Methods: Structured phone interviews on feeding practices were conducted with 2450 Italian-speaking mothers randomly selected among women who delivered a healthy-term singleton infant in November 1999 in Italy. Interviews were performed 30 d after delivery and when the infants were aged 3, 6, 9 and 12 mo. Type of breastfeeding was classified according to the WHO criteria.Results: Breastfeeding started in 91.1% of infants. At the age of 6 and 12mo, respectively, 46.8% and 11.8% of the infants was still breastfed, 68.4% and 27.7% received formula, and 18.3% and 65.2% were given cow's milk. Solids were introduced at the mean age of 4.3 mo (range 1.6-6.5 mo). Introduction of solids occurred before age 3 and 4 mo in 5.6% and 34.2% of infants, respectively. The first solids introduced were fruit (73.1%) and cereals (63.9%). The main factors (negatively) associated with the duration of breastfeeding were pacifier use (p > 0.0001), early introduction of formula (p > 0.0001), lower mother's age (p > 0.01) and early introduction of solids (p= 0.05). Factors (negatively) associated with the introduction of solids foods before the age of 3 mo were mother not having breastfed (p > 0.01), early introduction of formula (p > 0.01), lower infant bodyweight at the age of 1 mo (p= 0.05) and mother smoking (p= 0.05).Conclusion: The duration of breastfeeding in Italy is still inadequate, as well as compliance with international recommendations for timing of introduction of complementary foods. National guidelines, public messages and educational campaigns should be promoted in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A is a typical cereal contaminant with strong nephrotoxic activity. To estimate the quantity of ochratoxin A that can be taken in by a child in the weaning period, several samples of cereal-based baby foods were analysed. Although most samples analysed contained ochratoxin A in undetectable amounts or below the Italian legal limit of 0.5 μg kg[sub -1], some irregular products were found. In particular, the analyses of the 119 batches (338 samples) of baby foods considered indicated that: 20 batches (16.8%) contained detectable quantities of ochratoxin A and four of these (3.4% of the total) contained ochratoxin A above the Italian permitted value. All samples coming from agricultural practices based on integrated pest management contained undetectable amounts of ochratoxin A, while ∼5% of batches coming from conventional and organic agricultural practices were above the legal limit. On the basis of the established provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), there is no significant toxicological risk for a child who occasionally consumes a formula with ochratoxin concentration slightly above the permitted level. However, stricter controls have to be applied to reject the batches containing irregular concentrations of ochratoxin A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum zinc concentrations have been determined in 28 healthy full-term Italian infants of both sexes at birth, as well as at 3 and at 5 months of age. Fourteen exclusively breast-fed infants who served as a control group were compared with 14 infants fed a cow's milk based adapted infant formula. No significant differences in serum zinc concentration between the breast-fed and the bottle-fed group became apparent during the study. The results of this study suggest a similar zinc nutriture in both groups. The availability of zinc from the adapted infant formula was not significantly different from that of human milk. These findings may be explained by the composition of the adapted formula tested, e.g. by a protein composition fairly close to that of human milk, by the presence of zinc derived from the natural ingredients only, by the low Fe/Zn ratio and by the elevated citrate content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]