Migration analysis of Cr, Ni, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Mo in internet-bought food serving stainless-steel utensils by ICP-MS and XRF

ABSTRACT

A total of 120 internet bought stainless-steel utensil samples intended for food serving were analysed for their release of Cr, Ni, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Mo. Samples were extracted using simulants under continuous and discontinuous test conditions, extracts were analysed by ICP-MS, and metallic compositions of utensils were indicated by XRF analysis. r² values for all analytes were determined between 0.9982 and 0.9997. RSD and WRm values ranged between 4.5–8.5% and 80–107% for all analytes, respectively, and LOD was in the range of 0.11–25.8 µg/l. Migration results show that 35% of total sample types show non-compliance with the SMLs established by the Nordic guidelines. XRF data show good correlation between the metals’ migration levels and their respective compositions in the utensil, and toxicological exposure estimates no significant adverse health effects from food served with articles exceeding the SMLs for Fe, Al, and Ni.

KEYWORDS:

• Stainless-steel utensils
• metal migration
• ICP-MS
• food contact materials
• testing conditions
• exposure estimation

Acknowledgments

This project was carried out in collaboration with the Public Analyst’s Laboratory, Dublin. Their expertise and ongoing assistance throughout the course of this study are deeply acknowledged. Further gratitude is paid to Ms. Ana Izquierdo (Assay Office, Dublin Castle) for facilitating the use of their XRF spectrometer. The project was funded under the Technological University Dublin Fiosraigh Research Award scheme.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).