Melamine contamination in milk powder in Uruguay

ABSTRACT

Forty samples of milk powder purchased in Uruguay were analysed to assess melamine (MEL) levels. Trichloroacetic acid and acetonitrile were used to extract and precipitate milk proteins previously to clean up of the samples by solid-phase extraction and then were determined by liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet detection. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ)of MEL were 0.006 and 0.019 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Milk was fortified with MEL at three levels, producing average recoveries higher than 83.8%. The values for positive samples ranged from 0.017 to 0.082 mg kg⁻¹. Nine samples were positive. Three of them had concentrations between LOD and LOQ. The mean MEL contamination was 0.028 mg kg⁻¹. Consumption of milk powder containing these levels of MEL does not constitute a health risk for consumers.

KEYWORDS:

• Melamine
• milk powder
• HPLC

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the UBA (Universidad de Buenos Aires), CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), CIC (Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires) and FICTB (Fundación de Investigaciones Científicas Teresa Benedicta de la Cruz).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the UBA (Universidad de Buenos Aires) [20020120100157]; CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas) [Resolución D No 4883]; CIC (Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires) [Resolución No 048/2016]; and FICTB (Fundación de Investigaciones Científicas Teresa Benedicta de la Cruz) [FICTBC 029/15].