Food & Nutrition

Arab Journal of Food & Nutrition
8. Levels of Lead and Cadmium in Fresh Milk, Milk Powder and and Infant Milk
Formulas in The Jordan Market (1993)
Ayoub E. Al-Jaloudi\ University of Jordan
Supervisor: Dr. Mohammad A. Humeid
Co-supervisor :Dr. Mohammed Isam Yamani
The aim of this research was to determine the levels of lead and cadmium in
fresh milk, milk powder, and infant milk formulas, retailed in the Jordan market, and
to compare these levels with the national and international specifications.
The levels of lead and cadmium were measured in 36 samples of raw cow milk,
which were collected from different production regions in Jordan, in 48 milk powder
samples representing 8 – trademark; and in 31 sheep and goat milk samples, 12 of
which were collected from areas with expected low levels of contamination, while the
others 19 samples were from areas with potentially high level of contamination in
Jordan. Lead and cadmium were determined in milk samples by atomic absorption
spectroscopy. The mean values of lead in raw cow milk, reconstituted milk powder
and reconstituted infant milk formulas were 0.085, 0.097 and 0.082 ppm respectively;
while the mean values of cadmium were 0.007, 0.011, and 0.007 ppm, respectively.
The mean values for lead in goat and sheep milk samples collected from areas with
low levels of contamination ranged from 0.091 to 0.096 ppm, whereas the cadmium
values ranged from0.008 to 0.009 ppm. However, the levels of lead and cadmium in
goat and sheep milk samples collected from areas with potentially high levels of
contamination were significantly higher and ranged from 0.165 to 0.184 ppm for lead
and 0.019 to 0.021 ppm for cadmium.
The levels of lead and cadmium in milk and milk infant formulas were quite low
even in polluted areas as compared with many other food stuffs. The levels of lead and
cadmium in raw cow milk samples from Jordan were relatively lower than those of the
reconstituted milk powder imported from European countries which have industrial
activities that give rise to higher pollution potential. Levels of lead and cadmium in
samples of infant milk formulas were lower than those of other milk types included in
this study, this can be attributed to the more careful selection of raw products and to
the careful exclusion of contamination during handling and processing.
Levels of lead and cadmium in fresh milk and reconstituted milk powder were
found below the maximum limits set by international specifications, while levels of
lead in reconstituted milk formulas were found to be in contradiction with the
specifications set by Sweden, Denmark and U.S.A (for infant milk formulas); whereas
the levels of cadmium were found to be below the maximum limits set by Denemark
for baby foods.
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Volume 12 11, No. 25, 2011