Monitoring Heavy and Trace Metals in Selected Children\u27s Food

High or low levels of essential and trace elements in foods typically eaten by child re n (potato chips, karate [a crispy puffed corn paste], biscuits and cakes) may cause significant health problems. In this study, the amounts of 13 elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn) were estimated in samples collected from supermarkets in Aswan City, Upper Egypt. Food samples included, 28 kinds of potato chips, 44 kind of karate, 15 kind of biscuits and 13 kind of cakes. One hundred samples were analyzed. The results showed that potato chips have the highest level of Cu, K, Mg, Na, and Pb, but they have low level of Ca. On the other hand, karates have the highest Na concentrations. Also, biscuits and cakes have high Pb levels. It is strongly recommended that the food industry in Egypt pay more attention in supplying and in technological management of snack food products to avoid the exposure of children to dangerously high or low levels of elements