Safety Evaluation of Elemental Content and Aflatoxin in Almond, Soy, And Oat Plant-Based Drinks

Abstract

The widespread consumption of plant-based beverages increases the significance of determining its elemental and aflatoxin content. Plant-based beverages are consumed in many parts of the world and their popularity and availability depend on the cultural habit toward consumption of vegetables and plants, dietary need and to what extent the market is developed. Since there is lack of information about elemental content on the packaging labels. Therefore, in this research we determined the concentration of macro elements (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P and S) and microelements (Al, As, B, ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Sr and Zn) 15 plant-based beverage samples of Soy, Almond and Oat based beverage. Additionally, we measured aflatoxin content of examined samples. The aims of the study are to determine concentration of elements in plant-based beverage samples, to determine concentration of Aflatoxin in plant-based beverage samples, to evaluate compliance of determined elemental and aflatoxin concentrations in Almond, Soy and Oat with standards set by regulatory bodies, which is Codex Alimentarius and to determine contribution of plant-beverage samples to nutrition reference values (Ca, K, Mg, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn)