Nitrates and nitrites in vegetables and vegetable-based products and their intakes by Estonian population

Terje Tamme (1) , Mari Reinik (2) , Mati Roasto (1) , Kadrin Juhkam (1) , Toomas Tenno (3) , Alida Kiis (1)

1 Department of Food Hygiene and Control
2 Tartu Laboratory
3 Institute of Physical Chemistry

The contents of nitrates were determined in 1349 samples of vegetables and ready-made food in 2003 - 2004 as a part of the Estonian food safety monitoring programme and the Estonian Science Foundation grant research activities. Results of manufacturers' self-control analyses were included in the study. The highest mean values of nitrates were detected in dill, spinach, lettuce and beetroot. The mean concentrations were 2936, 2508, 2167 and 1446 mg kg-1, respectively. The content of nitrites in analyzed samples was lower than 5 mg kg-1. In total, the mean dose of nitrates reached by Estonian population was 58 mg day-1. The mean content of nitrates in vegetable-based infant foods of Estonian origin was 88 mg kg-1. The average daily intake of nitrates by children in the age group of 4 to 6 years was 30 mg. The infants' average daily intake of nitrates from consumption of vegetable-based foods was 7.8 mg.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Terje Tamme, Mari Reinik, Mati Roasto, Kadrin Juhkam, Toomas Tenno, et al.. Nitrates and nitrites in vegetables and vegetable-based products and their intakes by Estonian population. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2006, 23 (04), pp.355-361. ⟨10.1080/02652030500482363⟩. ⟨hal-00577575⟩