Selenium concentrations in soya based milks and infant formulae available in the United Kingdom

A simple hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometric method previously described for bovine infant formulae has been successfuly applied for the analysis of selenium in UK soya based milks and infant formulae. Levels reported for the first time ranged from 0.011 to 0.040 μg/g (wet wt) for soya milks and from 0.023 to 0.089 μg/g (dry wt) for soya isolate infant formulae. No matrix interferences were encountered and the mean recovery was 100.1%. These values exhibit variation between batches, hence routine QC analysis and fortification by manufacturers is recommended.