Baby foods

Mineral profile of kaki fruits (Diospyros kaki L.)

The main objective of this study was the determination of the mineral profile of 167 kaki fruit (Diospyros kaki L.) samples produced from different regions of Spain, including samples with the protected designation of origin (PDO) 'Kaki Ribera del Xúquer' Valencia (Spain). Samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Consumption of one piece of kaki fruit (200-400 g) would give a mineral intake providing 1-10% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for calcium, 1-30% for copper and potassium, 1-15% from iron and magnesium, up to 1% of sodium, and up to 4% of zinc. ANOVA analysis indic…

Direct determination of minerals in human diets by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence

The use of near and mid infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to determine the concentration of mineral elements in Spanish human diets was investigated. Thirty-five commercial baby foods, 6 children fast food menus and 13 university canteen menu samples were analysed by infrared and XRF spectroscopy and spectra evaluated by using reference data obtained by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Models for calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, sodium and zinc determination were built and validated. Spectra were pre-treated by using different pre-processing algorithms (multiplicative scatter correction, standard normal variation, first derivate, ortho…

Mineral analysis of human diets by spectrometry methods

Abstract Mineral element determination in human diets is very important for human health, due to the presence in foods of essential and toxic elements or their incorporation in the manipulation and cooking food process. Different instrumental techniques have been used to determine mineral elements in human diets, but atomic spectroscopy and mass spectrometry based ones are the most commonly employed. Sampling procedures for diet analysis are the main critically step for mineral element determination, being employed different standardised protocols. This review summarised critically the state-of-the-art of mineral analysis in human diets, considering sampling, sample preparation and determin…

Authentication of protected designation of origin artichokes by spectroscopy methods

Abstract Artichoke samples with the protected designation of origin (PDO) ‘Alcachofa de Benicarlo’ were discriminated from those produced in other towns surrounding Valencia and Murcia, outside the PDO frame. Inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES), near infrared (NIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were assayed in order to achieve a correct sample classification of the three different origin sample groups (Benicarlo, Valencia and Murcia). Chemometrics was used to compare the ability of classification of artichoke from their origin by using concentration data of mineral elements, determined by ICP-OES, NIR spectra and XRF spectra. Multivariate analysis tools, as principal component analysis (PCA…

Mineral profile of Spanish commercial baby food.

Commercial baby foods are an important part of the daily intake of babies from 6 to 12 months. The mineral profile of commercial baby foods in Spain was determined to establish levels of essential and non-essential elements, and their contribution to adequate intake (AI) and estimated average requirement (EAR). Thirty-five jars of commercial foods containing meat, fish, vegetables and fruit were obtained from the Spanish market and the mineral composition determined for 14 elements. In general, the baby foods analysed were sufficient for an adequate mineral intake, but contributions to AI and EAR for iron, zinc and calcium were very low (5-20%, 10-60% and 10-70%, respectively). This deficie…

Classification of persimmon fruit origin by near infrared spectrometry and least squares-support vector machines

Abstract The main objective of this work has been the authentication by Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectrometry of the origin of persimmon fruits cultivated in different regions of Spain. In order to achieve this goal, 166 persimmon samples from 7 different regions of Spain were analyzed by FT-NIR spectrometry. By splitting the spectral data in training and independent test sets, a classification model was built using least squares support vector machines chemometric technique. Orthogonal signal correction and principal component analysis were performed prior to conduct the classification strategy. The verified model was applied for the prediction of the origin of 50 samples f…

A preliminary approach to mineral intake in the Spanish diet established from analysis of the composition of university canteen menus

Abstract The concentration of mineral elements in complete menus has in Spain been determined in order to establish the levels of essential and toxic elements and their contribution to the maximum recommended intake. Thirteen university canteen menus obtained from the Burjassot campus, in Valencia, were analysed to establish a first approach on mineral composition in the Spanish diet. The menus were composed of a mixture of cereals, meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and dairy products. Samples were crushed, homogenized and lyophilized, and 25 elements were determinated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) after digestion of samples in a microwave oven. Menu sam…

Green direct determination of mineral elements in artichokes by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence.

Near infrared (NIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy were investigated to predict the concentration of calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc in artichoke samples. Sixty artichokes were purchased from different Spanish areas (Benicarlo, Valencia and Murcia). NIR and XRF spectra, combined with partial least squares (PLS) data treatment, were used to develop chemometric models for the prediction of mineral concentration. To obtain reference data, samples were mineralised and analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Coefficients of determination obtained for the regression between predicted values and reference ones for calcium, …