Mineral and trace element content of various vegetarian foodstuffs available in Belgium

Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine mineral (Na, K, Ca and Mg) and trace element content (Zn, Fe, Cu and Si) of various vegetarian fo odstuffs in Belgium. Thirty-five commercially available products were analy sed after a wet-acid destruction in a closed-vessel destruction bomb. Vario us important sources of the minerals and trace elements were identified. Si nce data for vegetarian foods in Belgium are nonexistent, the concentration values are compared with the scarce literature data and particularly with levels found in the same products available in The Netherlands.