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The development of trichloromethane (TCM) in milk can result from the use of chlorine‐based detergent solutions during the milk production process. Different factors affecting the development of TCM in milk were investigated. Gas chromatography with electron capture detector was the method of analysis. Combining milks of different TCM levels resulted in milk TCM levels similar to that calculated mathematically. Increased chlorine concentration in the detergent and reduced rinse water volume resulted in increased TCM concentrations (P < 0.05) in milk, while the addition of chlorine to the rinse water also increased (P < 0.001) milk TCM.

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Knowledge of element concentrations in botanical extracts is relevant to assure consumer protection given the increased interest in plant-based ingredients. This study demonstrates successful multi-element investigations in order to address the lack of comprehensive profiling data for botanical extracts, while reporting for the first time the metallomic profile(s) of arnica, bush vetch, sweet cicely, yellow rattle, bogbean, rock-tea and tufted catchfly. Key element compositions were quantified using a validated HR-ICP-SFMS method (µg kg−1) and were found highly variable between the different plants: Lithium (18–3964); Beryllium (3–121); Molybdenum (75–4505); Cadmium (5–325); Tin (6–165); Barium (747–4646); Platinum (2–33); Mercury (5–30); Thallium (3–91); Lead (12–4248); Bismuth (2–30); Titanium (131–5827); Vanadium (15–1758); Chromium (100–4534); Cobalt (21–652); Nickel (230–6060) and Copper (1910–6340). Compendial permissible limits were not exceeded. Overall, no evidence of a health risk to consumers could be determined from consumption of the investigated plants at reasonable intake rates. Mathematical risk modelling (EDI, CDI, HQ, HI) estimated levels above safe oral thresholds only for Cd (16%) and Pb (8%) from higher intakes of the respective plant-derived material. Following high consumption of certain plants, 42% of the samples were categorised as potentially unsafe due to cumulative exposure to Cu, Cd, Hg and Pb. PCA suggested a potential influence of post-harvest processing on Cr, Ti and V levels in commercially-acquired plant material compared to wild-collected and farm-grown plants. Moreover, a strong correlation was observed between Pb-Bi, Be-V, Bi-Sn, and Tl-Mo occurrence. This study may support future research by providing both robust methodology and accompanying reference profile(s) suitable for the quality evaluation of essential elements and/or metal contaminants in botanical ingredients.

A method has been developed, optimised and validated to analyse protein powder supplements on an inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometer (ICP-SFMS), with reference to ICH Guideline Q2 Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and Methodology. This method was used in the assessment of twenty-one (n = 21) elements (Al, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Pb, Pt, Sn, Ti, Tl, V) to evaluate the safety of thirty-six (n = 36) protein powder samples that were commercially available in the Irish marketplace in 2016/2017. Using the determined concentrations of elements in samples (µg·kg−1), a human health risk assessment was carried out to evaluate the potential carcinogenic and other risks to consumers of these products. While the concentrations of potentially toxic elements were found to be at acceptable levels, the results suggest that excessive and prolonged use of some of these products may place consumers at a slightly elevated risk for developing cancer or other negative health impacts throughout their lifetimes. Thus, the excessive use of these products is to be cautioned, and consumers are encouraged to follow manufacturer serving recommendations.

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