TY - Generic T1 - Screening for nanoparticles in complex matrices within a regulatory framework: are we there yet? Y1 - 2018 A1 - Nadia Waegeneers A1 - Delfosse,L. A1 - Sandra De Vos A1 - Jan Mast KW - Nanoparticles AB -

Silver (Ag) is a food additive (E174) approved by the European Commission to be used for the external coating of confectionery, for decoration of chocolates, and in liqueurs. It is commercially distributed in its pristine powder and sheet form, and in confectionary products. The presented work is part of a larger project that aims at a systematic examination of silver (E174) food additives and food items containing silver, available on the market in line with Regulation (EU) N° 1169/2011. Ten pristine samples of E174 and ten food items containing E174 were investigated for their number-based size distribution of Ag particles. The food items were as well investigated for their total Ag content. Single particle inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) was studied as a screening tool to determine the number-based size distribution of Ag particles, their particle number and mass concentration. The number-based size distribution of Ag particles was verified by transmission electron microscopy. Sample preparation, which included separation of the particles from the matrix in case of food products and preparation of a stable particle dispersion, proved to be a challenging step. The precision (repeatability and intermediate precision) of the selected methodology was determined for both the pristine E174 food additives and food samples containing E174. The determination of total Ag in the food samples by means of inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after acid microwave digestion was hampered by matrix effects, but could be solved by internal calibration. The applied methodology was able to demonstrate the presence of silver nanoparticles in E174 and confectionery products within the framework of Regulation (EU) N° 1169/2011.

Acknowledgement: This research was funded by the Belgian Federal Public Service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment. The authors wish to thank R. Machiels and F. Van Steen for their technical assistance.

JF - 40th International Conference on Environmental & Food Monitoring (ISEAC-40) PB - ISEAC-40 CY - Santiago de Compostela, Spain ER -