Dietary exposure assessment to macrolide antimicrobial residues through infant formulas marketed in Brazil

ABSTRACT

Macrolides are critically important antimicrobials for both human and animal health and should be prioritized in risk assessments, as inappropriate use may result in antimicrobial resistance. The antimicrobials erythromycin, oleandomycin, spiramycin, tilmicosin and tylosin were analysed in infant formula samples by HPLC-MS/MS using a validated analytical method based on a modified QuEChERS extraction. The results of the occurrence study were employed to perform a dietary exposure assessment of infants to residues. In a total of 30 analysed samples, 73% contained spiramycin residues and 27%, tilmicosin residues. Calculated daily intakes ranged from 1.47 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.71 × 10⁻⁴ mg kg⁻¹ body weight considering all analytes, representing 0.01–0.59% of acceptable daily intakes. The results of the dietary exposure assessment were all below acceptable daily intakes, indicating low potential health concerns. However, according to Brazilian regulations, infant formulas containing residues of one or more of the investigated analytes were deemed as non-compliant.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Macrolides
• LC-MS/MS
• modified alkaline QuEChERS
• risk assessment
• antimicrobial resistance
• food safety
• infant nutrition
• food control
• food contaminants

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code [001].