Residual Pesticides Analysis in Plant-Based Meat by GC-MS/MS

Importance of Topic

Plant-based meat products are gaining popularity due to health and environmental benefits over traditional meat. However, crops used in these formulations are often treated with pesticides, and residual levels may pose risks to consumers. Reliable analytical methods are essential to monitor trace pesticide residues and guarantee food safety.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study aimed to develop and validate a targeted GC-MS/MS method for simultaneous screening and quantification of over 40 pesticide residues in various plant-based meat matrices. Using Shimadzu’s Smart Pesticides Database for optimized MRM transitions, the work examined method sensitivity, recovery, matrix effects, repeatability, and calibration performance.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample Preparation

• QuEChERS extraction following EN 15662 with modifications: 10 g sample, 10 mL acetonitrile, salting-out (MgSO₄/NaOAc), dSPE cleanup (150 mg MgSO₄, 25 mg PSA, 25 mg C18-EC).
• Post-acetonitrile spiking for recovery assessment; overnight fat freezing step; final cleanup centrifugation and filtration.
• Matrix-matched calibration prepared in extract to address matrix enhancement.

Used Instrumentation

• Gas chromatograph–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer: GCMS-TQ8050 NX (Shimadzu) with AOC-20i/s Plus auto-injector.
• Column: SH-I-5Sil MS, 30 m × 0.25 mm ID × 0.25 µm film.
• MRM transitions and collision energies from Shimadzu Smart Pesticides Database Ver.2.

Main Results and Discussion

Recovery

• Four commercial plant-based meat samples (A–D) tested at 5 pg/µL; Sample B delivered recoveries between 70–130 % for all analytes.
• Other matrices with varied fat or coloring required cleanup adjustments to meet recovery criteria.

Matrix Effect

• Nine representative pesticides showed 200–3000 % signal enhancement in sample matrix versus acetonitrile.
• Matrix-matched calibration was necessary to compensate for ionization effects.

Sensitivity, Repeatability and Linearity

• LOQs of 0.5 pg/µL achieved for ~60 % of analytes; remaining compounds had LOQs up to 10 pg/µL.
• Calibration curves (5–7 points) exhibited excellent linearity (R² > 0.999) with area repeatability (RSD) generally below 10 %.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The optimized method offers:

• High sensitivity for ultra-trace pesticide detection in complex plant-based matrices.
• Robust, ready-to-use workflows with database-driven MRM setup.
• Scalable QuEChERS cleanup adaptable to varied sample compositions.

Future Trends and Opportunities

• Refinement of dSPE sorbent compositions to accommodate diverse food additives and fat levels.
• Automation and high-throughput integration for routine quality control in food production.
• Extension of database-driven methods to emerging contaminants and new plant-derived protein sources.

Conclusion

The GCMS-TQ8050 NX method coupled with QuEChERS dSPE and matrix-matched calibration provides a reliable platform for monitoring residual pesticides in plant-based meats. Cleanup optimization remains crucial for different formulations, but the overall approach delivers high sensitivity, accuracy, and repeatability.

References

1. J. L. Lusk et al., Environ. Res. Lett. 17 (2022) 024035
2. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Why We Use Pesticides, accessed July 2022
3. ScienceDirect, Crop Yields Increase, accessed September 2022
4. Restek, Q-sep QuEChERS dSPE Tubes for Extract Cleanup, accessed September 2022