Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are formed during the process of water disinfection. Therefore their presence in
foods can be correlated with the addition of or contact with treated water. To determine the origin of
HAAs in milk and dairy products, firstly a chromatographic method was developed for their determination.
The sample treatment involves deproteination of milk followed by derivatization/extraction of the
HAAs in the supernatant. About 20% of the foods analyzed contained two HAAs – which in no case
exceeded 2 lg L1
, that can be ascribed to contamination from sanitizers usually employed in the dairy
industry. The process of boiling tap water (containing HAAs) for the preparation of powdered infant formula
did not remove them; therefore it would be advisable to prepare this type of milk with mineral
water (free of HAAs). In addition, it is possible to establish if the milk has been adulterated with treated
water through the determination of HAAs.
2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved