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 foodstuffs in Belgium. Thirty-five commercially available products were analysed after a wet-acid destruction in a closed-vessel destruction bomb. Various important sources of the minerals and trace elements were identified. Since data for vegetarian foods in Belgium are non-existent, the concentration values are compared with the scarce literature data and particularly with levels found in the same products available in The Netherlands. Received: 2 June 1998 / Revised version: 5 October 1998