Development and validation of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the detection of zearalenone and its metabolites in cereal-based infant formulas | Development and validation of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the detection of zearalenone and its metabolites in cereal-based infant formulas

Food safety is a high priority for human health. Chemical substances contaminated at different stages can cause acute and chronic health problems. Infants are one of the essential risk groups. Studies on endocrine disruptors are particularly important as these substances have many undesirable consequences for future generations, notably their impact on the reproductive system. Zearalenone (ZON), produced by Fusarium fungi, is an endocrine-disrupting mycotoxin with an estrogenic effect. Many species of fungi are localised on agricultural products such as corn, rice, and wheat. Feeding infants in the early stages of life with plant-based formula may lead to harmful effects of mycotoxins. We aimed to investigate whether commercially available cereal-based infant formulas are contaminated with ZON. Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine ZON and metabolites. The method was developed by optimisation studies in sample preparation. The process was accurate, selective, reproducible, and highly sensitive at concentrations below the maximum residue level. ZON was validated using two different working ranges (for 1st working range: 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 ng/g; r2 are 0.993, 0.995; 1.08 ng/g, LODs are 1.08, 1.01 and 1.2 ng/g; LOQs are 3.25, 3.01 and 3.62 ng/g, and 2nd working ranges: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ng/g; r2 are 0.996, 0.994, and 0.996; LODs are 0.20, 0.200 ng/g, 0.06 g/ng; LOQs are 0.18, 0.60 ng/g and 0.60 g/ng for ZON, α-ZOL and β-ZOL, respectively). Cereal-based infant formulas sold retail in the market were not contaminated with ZON and its metabolites. Infants consuming these products are not at risk from cereal-based formulas.

Food safety is a high priority for human health. Chemical substances contaminated at different stages can cause acute and chronic health problems. Infants are one of the essential risk groups. Studies on endocrine disruptors are particularly important as these substances have many undesirable consequences for future generations, notably their impact on the reproductive system. Zearalenone (ZON), produced by Fusarium fungi, is an endocrine-disrupting mycotoxin with an estrogenic effect. Many species of fungi are localised on agricultural products such as corn, rice, and wheat. Feeding infants in the early stages of life with plant-based formula may lead to harmful effects of mycotoxins. We aimed to investigate whether commercially available cereal-based infant formulas are contaminated with ZON. Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine ZON and metabolites. The method was developed by optimisation studies in sample preparation. The process was accurate, selective, reproducible, and highly sensitive at concentrations below the maximum residue level. ZON was validated using two different working ranges (for 1st working range: 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 ng/g; r2 are 0.993, 0.995; 1.08 ng/g, LODs are 1.08, 1.01 and 1.2 ng/g; LOQs are 3.25, 3.01 and 3.62 ng/g, and 2nd working ranges: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ng/g; r2 are 0.996, 0.994, and 0.996; LODs are 0.20, 0.200 ng/g, 0.06 g/ng; LOQs are 0.18, 0.60 ng/g and 0.60 g/ng for ZON, α-ZOL and β-ZOL, respectively). Cereal-based infant formulas sold retail in the market were not contaminated with ZON and its metabolites. Infants consuming these products are not at risk from cereal-based formulas.