Baby Food Quality Testing

Wholesome nutrition plays a huge role in your baby’s overall growth – from physical milestones like learning to walk for the first time to mental development. 

Infant food safety is the identification of risky food handling practices and the prevention of illness in infants. Food borne illness is a serious health issue, especially for babies and children. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to foodborne illness because their immune systems are not developed enough to fight off foodborne bacterial infections. Babies and young children deserve the highest quality baby food available, and lawmakers recognize that special precautions must be taken to ensure their safety due to their low body weight and increased sensitivity. Analytical baby food testing by Eurofins will ensure that these stringent regulations will be met.

Toxic residues that may result from cultivation or production must be reduced considerably more in baby food products than for other food products. Government regulations and dietary regulations define specific nutritional requirements and limits for contaminants that are far below conventional ones.

Organically grown food will often be used for this consumer group, especially to restrict pesticide residues during production. These toxic metals can be found in baby food because they are in the soil that the food is grown in. Some baby food companies are taking steps to source their ingredients from the least contaminated fields and use different varieties and growing methods to decrease the toxic chemicals in their products. In addition to reviewing their ingredients’ sources, they could ensure water and equipment used for manufacturing don’t contribute to contamination. Other contaminants such as heavy metals and mycotoxins, although influence able through cultivation and storage conditions, are more difficult to regulate and are liable to high fluctuations. Crops absorb heavy metals from earth and water, the same way they do nutrients. But some crops take up more of the compounds than others. For example, rice absorbs about 10 times more arsenic than other grains absorbs. Among recent examples, apples and spinach are often tainted with organophosphate pesticides. In packaged foods, it is also possible that something in the manufacturing process, such as the type of metal used in machinery, contributes to contamination. Soil near big cities and centers of industry tends to contain more heavy metals.

To set strong limits on the levels of these toxic chemicals in baby foods to protect all babies, starting with arsenic and lead, where strong science and high exposures create irrefutable risks for children. Over time, exposure to heavy metals can harm the health of adults and children. One of the biggest worries cognitive development in very young children. Babies and toddlers are particularly vulnerable due to their smaller size and developing brains and organ systems. The risks from heavy metals grow over time, in part because they accumulate in the kidneys and other internal organs. These toxins can remain in your body for years. Regularly consuming even small amounts over a long period of time may raise the risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer; cognitive and reproductive problems; and type 2 diabetes, among other conditions. Getting too much methylmercury can cause nerve damage, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and impaired vision and hearing. Over time, cadmium exposure can lead to kidney, bone, and lung diseases. Perchlorate disrupts thyroid functions crucial to brain development and has been linked to IQ loss among children born to mothers with thyroid dysfunction, who are more vulnerable to perchlorate toxicity.

The Eurofins group is glad to support you with a monitoring plan tailored to your products and requirements this a priority and we are working to reduce the health risks these elements present, especially to those most vulnerable children. The government, parents, baby food companies, farmers all have a role in measurably reducing baby’s exposure.

Relevant Baby Food Products Testing

Eurofins provides testing services for all of the following baby food products which is governed by FSSR & BIS regulations in India:

• Milk-cereal based complimentary food as per IS 1656:2007
• Infant Milk Substitute as per IS 14433:2007
• Follow up formula- complimentary food as per IS 15757:2007
• Dairy products

Specific Analysis

Eurofins India offers a variety of analyses, including testing for mycotoxins, migration testing (e.g. primary and secondary packaging), antibiotics residues, pesticides residues, other contaminants, allergen testing (including gluten, peanut, Soya, mustard and many more), GMO testing and the analysis of microorganisms such as hygiene-related bacteria and spoilage microorganisms.

We test for organisms and indicator germs that include indicator organisms, pathogenic bacteria and their toxins. We also offer microscopial analysis, inhibitor testing, sterility testing, hygiene checks, shelf life studies.

Eurofins can test for ingredients such as nutrients; the "big four" (calories, protein, carbohydrates and fat); the "big eight" (calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, sugar, saturated fat, fibre and sodium); water, ash, vitamins, minerals and additives. Eurofins offers the complete portfolio of nutritional label claim testing of baby food covering all vitamins, minerals and other nutritional tests internationally approved test methods.

Additionally, baby foods test detected another neurotoxic contaminant -Perchlorate

Why Eurofins?

• We are the global leader in analytical testing and we will be your expert partner offering a complete range of analyses and consultancy. Our team of experts conducts ongoing research and development. We actively participate in decisive committees such as CEN, DIN, AOAC, BIS and FSSR.
• We have deep expertise in commodities, product development and analytical services and we offer thorough product assessment and analysis with guaranteed integrity.
• Our laboratories undergo ongoing performance checks by internal quality management and we continuously participate in ring trials and proficiency tests, as well as customer audits.
• Online access to your samples and the ability to download your results via the EOL platform (Eurofins OnLine)