WATERS Food Testing

Importance of Food Testing

Globalization of the food supply has heightened the need for robust analytical methods to verify safety, authenticity, and regulatory compliance. Consumers demand transparency about food quality and origin, governments enforce stricter limits on contaminants, and industry seeks efficient ways to protect brand integrity while expanding markets.

Objectives and Study Overview

This work presents strategies for developing liquid chromatography–based methods tailored to two main applications: broad multi-residue screening of contaminants and targeted compound- or class-specific analyses. By outlining key drivers, practical workflows, and case studies, the goal is to guide laboratories in creating reliable, high-throughput, and sensitive assays for diverse food matrices.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample preparation and detection strategies differ significantly between multi-residue and compound-specific methods:

• Multi-Residue Workflow: QuEChERS dispersive SPE and solid-phase extraction protocols enable quick, universal extraction of hundreds of analytes with minimal cleanup. Typical instrumentation includes UPLC systems coupled to tandem quadrupole MS (e.g., ACQUITY UPLC with TQ Detector).
• Compound-Specific Workflow: Selective SPE sorbents (e.g., Oasis MCX, MAX) isolate and concentrate target classes such as veterinary drugs, mycotoxins, or melamine and cyanuric acid. Reversed-phase (BEH C18, HSS T3) or HILIC columns deliver optimized separation, often paired with LC–MS/MS or HPLC-UV for confirmation.

Used Instrumentation:

• Waters ACQUITY UPLC System with ACQUITY TQ Detector (tandem quadrupole MS)
• Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 and BEH HILIC columns
• Alliance e2690/2998 HPLC-PDA detector with Quattro Premier XE MS
• Sep-Pak and Oasis SPE cartridges and dispersive QuEChERS kits

Main Results and Discussion

In a 10-minute UPLC–MS/MS run, over 400 pesticide residues were quantified in mango, avocado, and baby food at ppb levels using QuEChERS extraction and large-volume injection. C18 SPE cleanup enabled recoveries above 70% with acceptable suppression for veterinary drugs in milk. Class-specific SPE methods for melamine, cyanuric acid, and tetracyclines achieved low-µg/kg detection in infant formula and dairy products, demonstrating the trade-off between broad screening and enhanced sensitivity for targeted analytes.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These workflows offer:

• Rapid, cost-efficient sample processing for routine surveillance and compliance checks
• High throughput compatible with national monitoring and import/export screening
• Flexible method design, from generic multi-residue assays to highly selective compound quantitation
• Improved data quality and confidence through selective cleanup and sensitive MS detection

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advances likely to shape food analysis include:

• Integration of high-resolution MS and data-independent acquisition for non-targeted screening
• Automated sample preparation platforms to reduce manual steps and variance
• Miniaturized and field-deployable LC-MS systems for on-site testing
• Machine-learning algorithms for rapid interpretation of complex multi-residue datasets

Conclusion

By aligning sample preparation, column selection, and detection techniques with analytical goals, laboratories can achieve robust, sensitive, and efficient liquid chromatography methods for food safety and quality. The balance between broad screening and targeted quantitation enables comprehensive monitoring and ensures consumer protection across diverse food matrices.

Reference

No specific literature references were provided in the source text.