Sterol oxidation in ready-to-eat infant foods during storage.

The effect of storage on sterol oxidation of ready-to-eat infant foods was evaluated. Two different flavor (honey -LH- or fruits-LF-) liquid infant foods, prepared with milk and cereals, were stored for 0, 2, 4, 7 and 9 months, at 25ºC. Sterol oxidation products (SOP) were extracted by cold saponification, purified by silica solid-phase and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry. -sitosterol was the most representative sterol, followed by cholesterol and campesterol. No significant differences in the total and single SOP content (0.8-1 mg/kg of product) were observed with respect to storage time and type of sample; the main SOP found was 7-ketositosterol (< …