A new EU-funded project will investigate the impact of the chemicals found in commercially-produced baby food on the health of newborn babies. Initiated by the German National Research Centre for Environment and Health (GSF), the Babyfood project will focus in particular on chemicals which affect the hormone system.

Increasing numbers of babies are either never breastfed or are only breastfed for a short time. Instead, these babies are fed with industrially-prepared formula milk or solids such as vegetable purée. However, the effects of the chemical residues found in these products on babies' health remains unclear.

'Chemicals in commercial baby food have a greater impact on the still embryonic tissue of a growing child than on the tissue of an adult who has stopped growing,' explained Karl-Werner Schramm of the GSF. 'Because the nervous system, respiratory system and reproductive organs of babies are not fully mature, it is harder for them to get rid of toxins. Furthermore, children take up health-damaging substances from food more easily than adults do.'

Studies show that even very low levels of chemicals in food can affect people's hormone systems. The reason for this is that the chemicals mimic human hormones and interact with receptors in our cells. If these receptors are triggered by external chemicals, it can lead to long-term health problems.

In the Babyfood project, scientists will develop tests to analyse levels of substances such as cadmium, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These will be tested to see how receptors in our cells react to the 'chemical cocktail' in our blood.

'There is evidence that cadmium and pesticides influence oestrogen receptors, while dioxins and PCBs attach themselves to the receptor that triggers damaging oxidative stress in the cell,' commented Dr Schramm.

Three groups of babies will be fed different types of baby food (normal formula milk, soya or hypoallergenic milk), and using the tests the scientists hope to create a risk assessment for these different types of food. As the products will be pooled, they will not be able to pass judgement on specific brands, but they expect to be able to develop recommendations for the best kinds of foods to give babies in the first nine months of life.

The Babyfood project is a part of the CASCADE Network of Excellence, which brings together over 20 working groups from nine countries to coordinate and integrate research on chemical residues in food. CASCADE is funded under the Sixth Framework Programme's 'Food quality and safety' thematic area.

CASCADE - further information

GSF - further information

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