Determination of nitrate and nitrite levels in infant foods marketed in Southern Italy

Nitrate and nitrite concentrations in foods have aroused considerable interest because of their possible toxicity to humans, especially younger children. Since dietary exposure to these compounds includes sources other than vegetables, 104 infant foods consisting of animal, plant and mixed origin and available on sale to the public were examined using the spectrophotometric AOAC method to assess whether during the weaning period the use of...