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Fluoride Content of Ready-to-Eat Infant Foods and Drinks in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Navira Chandio

    (Campbelltown Campus, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
    Health Equity Laboratory, Campbelltown, Sydney, NSW 2560, Australia
    Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia)

  • James Rufus John

    (Health Equity Laboratory, Campbelltown, Sydney, NSW 2560, Australia
    School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
    South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, Sydney, NSW 2170, Australia
    Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Sydney, NSW 2170, Australia)

  • Shaan Floyd

    (School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia)

  • Emily Gibson

    (School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia)

  • Danny K. Y. Wong

    (School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia)

  • Steven M. Levy

    (College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA)

  • Judy R. Heilman

    (College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA)

  • Amit Arora

    (Campbelltown Campus, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
    Health Equity Laboratory, Campbelltown, Sydney, NSW 2560, Australia
    Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
    Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia)

Abstract

The use of fluoride is effective in preventing dental caries. However, an excessive intake of fluoride leads to dental fluorosis, making it necessary to regularly monitor the fluoride intake especially for infants. There is hitherto a lack of information on fluoride content in infant foods from an Australian perspective. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the amount of fluoride content from a range of commercially available ready-to-eat (RTE) infant foods and drinks available in Australia. Based on an external calibration method, potentiometry involving a fluoride ion selective electrode and a silver|silver chloride reference electrode was conducted to analyse the fluoride content of a total of 326 solid food samples and 49 liquid food samples in this work. Our results showed an overall median (range) fluoride content of 0.16 (0.001–2.8) µg F/g of solid food samples, and 0.020 (0.002–1.2) µg F/mL of liquid food samples. In addition, ~77.5% of the liquid samples revealed a fluoride content < 0.05% µg F/mL. The highest variation of fluoride concentration (0.014–0.92 µg F/g) was found in formulas for ≥6 month-old infants. We have attributed the wide fluoride content variations in ready-to-eat infant foods and drinks to the processing steps, different ingredients and their origins, including water. In general, we found the fluoride content in most of the collected samples from Australian markets to be high and may therefore carry a risk of dental fluorosis. These results highlight the need for parents to receive appropriate information on the fluoride content of ready-to-eat infant food and drinks.

Suggested Citation

  • Navira Chandio & James Rufus John & Shaan Floyd & Emily Gibson & Danny K. Y. Wong & Steven M. Levy & Judy R. Heilman & Amit Arora, 2022. "Fluoride Content of Ready-to-Eat Infant Foods and Drinks in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14087-:d:956463
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