Complete compilation of applications for food analysis

Food Safety Analysis: Advanced Techniques and Applications

Significance of Topic

Ensuring global food security and consumer health requires sensitive detection and accurate quantification of contaminants—ranging from veterinary drugs and pesticides to persistent organic pollutants and allergens—across diverse food matrices. Advanced analytical methods support regulatory compliance and risk mitigation.

Objectives and Overview

• Compile and demonstrate complete solutions for modern food safety analysis.
• Develop and validate fast, multiplexed methods for antibiotics, pesticides, dioxins, and allergens in foods and feeds.
• Achieve high sensitivity, robustness, and regulatory conformity through automated workflows.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Sample preparation approaches: QuEChERS for pesticides; SPE and ASE for antibiotics and dioxins; PCR for allergen DNA; microfluidic electrophoresis.
• Chromatography: Hydrophilic Interaction LC (HILIC) for polar antibiotics; UHPLC with biphenyl columns for pesticides; gas chromatography for dioxins.
• Detection: Triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LCMS-8060, GCMS-TQ8040/TQ8050) using Multiple Reaction Monitoring and Smart MRM for rapid screening and unambiguous confirmation.

Instrumentation

• Shimadzu UFMS-equipped mass spectrometers: LCMS-8060, GCMS-TQ8040, GCMS-TQ8050.
• Biotage Extrahera for automated SPE cleanup.
• BUCHI SpeedExtractor and Miura GO-xHT for accelerated extraction of feeds.
• Restek Raptor Biphenyl UHPLC columns for pesticide analysis.
• Shimadzu MultiNA Microchip Electrophoresis System for high-throughput allergen PCR.

Main Results and Discussion

• Aminoglycoside antibiotics: HILIC-MS/MS achieved femtogram-level LOQs, recoveries >80%, and robust identification via MRM Spectrum mode.
• PCDD/F dioxins: GC-MS/MS with Smart MRM matched high-resolution MS performance, delivering linearity (R²>0.999) and reliable TEQ determination down to 10 fg on-column.
• Fipronil in eggs: UHPLC-MS/MS with QuEChERS sample prep and method package yielded an LOQ of 0.025 mg/kg and strong calibration linearity (R=0.9968).
• Food allergens: Microfluidic PCR and MultiNA electrophoresis separated and detected target amplicons (wheat, buckwheat, peanuts, shrimp, crab) in ≤80 s per sample with superior sensitivity over agarose gels.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Streamlined, high-throughput workflows for food safety laboratories.
• Reduced sample prep time and solvent consumption through automation.
• Compliant with EU regulations on MRLs, TEQs, and allergen labeling.
• Enhanced data integrity via automated method creation, retention time locking, and electronic signatures.

Future Trends and Applications

• Integration of high-resolution MS with Smart MRM for expanded multi-residue panels.
• Portable microfluidic and mass spectrometry platforms for on-site screening.
• Multiplexed immunoassays and DNA biosensors for comprehensive allergen profiling.
• AI-driven method optimization and real-time data analytics.

Conclusion

Combining advanced chromatographic separations, high-sensitivity mass spectrometry, and automated microfluidic electrophoresis provides robust, rapid, and regulatory-compliant solutions for food safety testing. These integrated workflows enhance laboratory efficiency, data quality, and consumer protection.

Reference

1. Shimadzu Corporation. UFMS Technology Application Notes.
2. US EPA Methods 1613B, 1640.
3. European Commission Regulations (EU) 589/2014, 709/2014, 644/2017.
4. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. Food Allergen Testing Guidelines.
5. Restek Corporation. Raptor Biphenyl UHPLC Column Datasheet.