Determination of melamine, ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric acid in infant formula purchased in Canada by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based isotope dilution method was developed for the analysis of the triazine compounds melamine (MEL), ammeline (AMN), ammelide (AMD) and cyanuric acid (CYA) in infant formula samples purchased in Canada in 2008 for the purpose of a combined exposure and risk assessment. Infant formula samples were extracted with 1:1 acetonitrile–water, cleaned up on disposable ion-exchange solid-phase extraction cartridges, and analysed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. MEL and CYA were detected in almost all infant formula products: the highest concentrations observed were 0.32 mg kg−1 MEL and 0.45 mg kg−1 CYA. Samples that were relatively high in MEL in this survey tended to be low in CYA, and vice versa. Concentrations of AMN and AMD were very low in all samples. The total of MEL-related compounds (sum of all four analytes) in all samples was below the interim standard of 0.5 mg kg−1 for infant formula products established by Health Canada

Sampling of cereals and cereal-based foods for the determination of ochratoxin A: an overview

The mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) is known to be heterogeneously distributed both intrinsically (from one individual food item to the next) as well as distributionally (throughout a sample of individual food items) in cereals and cereal-based foods. Therefore, proper sampling and sample comminution are special challenges, but are prerequisites for obtaining sound analytical data. This paper outlines the issue of the sampling process for cereals and cereal-based foods, starting with the planning phase, followed by the sampling step itself and the formation of analytical samples. The sampling of whole grain and retail-level cereal-based foods will be discussed. Furthermore, possibilities to reduce sampling variance are presented

Detection of sulfonamide and tetracycline antibiotic residues in Turkish pine honey

WOS: 000423507200005Pine honey is a honeydew honey that can be produced endemically in eastern Mediterranean. Turkey is the world's largest producer of pine honey with around 95% export share. Antibiotic residue in honey is still an important problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine sulfonamide and tetracycline group antibiotics in pine honey collected from Aegean Region of Turkey. For this purpose, 59 natural pine honey samples were detected by competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay method. Tetracycline group antibiotics were found in 35 honey samples out of 59 between 6 and 42 ppb, whereas in 24 of the samples the levels were below the detection level (< 4 ppb). Sulfonamide group antibiotics were found in 31 honey samples out of 59 between 3 and 32 ppb, while 28 samples were below the detection limit (< 2 ppb). There are no maximum residue limits established for antibiotics in honey according to the European Community regulations, which means honeys should not contain antibiotics