Patulin and phenolic content in commercial fruity baby foods on the Turkish market

Abstract

This study aimed to determine baby foods' safety, antioxidant content, and color. In this study, the mycotoxin patulin, which is toxic to humans, and phenolics (chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, epicatechin), which are beneficial to human health and color, were analyzed in baby foods containing fruit puree. The patulin content in 12 baby foods purchased from the market in Türkiye was below 8.45 µg/kg. Patulin found in baby foods comes from spoiled fruit. By performing this study, the quality of fruits used in baby foods was evaluated. Fruits also have chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and epicatechin phenolics. These phenolics in baby foods were 9.316-598.428 µg/kg, 0.953-14.166 µg/kg, and 0.471-20.35 µg/kg, respectively. L*, a*, and b* color values of 12 baby foods were found between 12.77-23.00, 1.44-11.19, and 10.50-11.01, respectively. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.