Evaluation of metals in tomato sauces stored in different types of packaging

There is a growing concern about health and food safety when it comes to processed food. In the present study, it has been hypothesized that tomato sauces contain high amounts of metals possibly leached from packaging. Concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Sn and Sb were determined by ICP-MS in tomato sauces stored in metallic, plastic, cellulosic and glass packaging. Packaging composition was determined by XRF. This study has also determined Cr and Sn content, by GF AAS, in simulant solutions prepared to be in contact with the four types of packaging. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the concentrations of metals in products stored in different types of packaging (p>0.05), except for Sn and Ni. Canned products presented higher concentrations of tin (0.19 mg/kg); and nickel contents showed a range of 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg. The only metal that was in higher concentration than the established by law (0.1 mg/kg) was Cr (mean value of 0.3 mg/kg). The XRF identified the presence of chromium in plastic, cellulosic and metallic packaging, and tin only in cans. For simulant solution, the tin from cans was the only identified migrant and chromium migration was not detected.