QuEChERS LC–MS/MS Screening Method for Mycotoxin Detection in Cereal Products and Spices
Licia Pantano, Ladislao La Scala, Francesco Olibrio, Francesco Giuseppe Galluzzo, Carmelo Bongiorno, Maria Drussilla Buscemi, Andrea Macaluso, Antonio Vella
Abstract
We developed and validated a screening method for mycotoxin analysis in cereal products and spices. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) was used for the analysis. Dispersive solid-phase extractions (d-SPEs) were used for the extraction of samples. Ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), aflatoxins (AFLA; AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin (FUMO; FB1, FB2, FB3), T2, and HT2 were validated in maize. AFLA and DON were validated in black pepper. The method satisfies the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) no. 401/2006 and (EC) no. 1881/2006. The screening target concentration (STC) was under maximum permitted levels (MLs) for all mycotoxins validated. The method’s performance was assessed by two different proficiencies and tested with 100 real samples.