Food and Beverage Analysis

An overview of important GC–MS techniques currently used in food analysis is described. Considerable attention is devoted to the use of the mass spectrometer, in relation to its poptential for separation and identification. The importance of comprehensive GC?GC is also discussed.

Introduction

Sample preparation is a crucial part of the analysis of foodstuffs. Current sample preparation techniques used in food analysis are reviewed and the advantages and drawbacks of each one are discussed.

In this review, the most recent LC–MS approaches are discussed, as well as the technical requirements for linking an LC system to a mass spectrometer. The advantages of on-line 2DLC in the "comprehensive" mode are also illustrated and selected applications for the analysis of common foodstuffs, such as triacylglycerols, carotenoids and polyphenols, are described. Finally, future trends for LC–MS in food analysis are reported.

On-line heart-cut LC–GC and, more recently, comprehensive LC–GC (LC?GC) are very powerful analytical techniques because of the combination of the selectivity features of LC with the high efficiency of GC. This article presents an overview of the most recently used interfacing systems, as well as applications in the food analysis.

Triple quadrupole LC/MS analysis of aflatoxins in food samples eliminates the need for expensive immuno-affinity cleanup columns and reduces the probability of false positives to almost zero.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) are fat-soluble, highly toxic, ubiquitous environmental contaminants found at trace levels in all foodstuffs and animal feed.

Wine is a beverage produced and consumed throughout the world and is a highly valued commodity. Its classification and authenticity can be very important.

Whether the goal is food safety, ensuring quality or establishing provenance, measuring the trace element content of foods and beverages that we all consume is of paramount importance.

More than 1000 pesticides are currently used worldwide in the treatment of soil and crops. Many countries have established allowable levels of those pesticides in food to protect consumers. While these maximum residue levels (MRLs) vary, the default tolerance is 10 parts per billion (ppb).

The task of efficiently monitoring chemical and biological contaminants in imported and exported food can be overwhelming. Traditionally, analysis of metals in foods has required multiple techniques in order to cover the range of elements, concentrations, and food types.

This afternoon session on Analysing Bioactive Compounds in Complex Food Matrices is chaired by Professor Rychlic from the Center Of Food and Life Sciences.

Click here to view the complete E-Separation Solutions newsletter from April 12, 2012.

Click here to view the complete E-Separation Solutions newsletter from April 12, 2012.

Traditional approaches for measuring food components are based on a ?target list? approach, whereby specific methodologies are developed for individual or related compounds. Such methods are well-suited for routine monitoring but can fail to detect emerging contamination events or to identify new prospects for product development.

Direct injection for gas chromatographic profiling of alcoholic beverages is usually preferable, but where spirits and liquors contain appreciable amounts of non-volatile material, some mode of pre-treatment may be required to avoid both inlet and column contamination. This consideration applies in particular to products aged for extended periods in wooden barrels and especially products containing added sugar, as volatile artefacts from sugar decomposition in the hot injection port can also complicate the chromatogram.

Hyphenated approaches to analysis have received much attention over the last three decades to the extent that techniques such as GC?MS, GC?FTIR and LC?MS have ? in the relevant fields ? become indispensable parts of the analyst?s arsenal. This concept has been extended to include multi-hyphenated techniques, where the chromatography is preceded by analyte extraction from a sample matrix. In the field of GC?MS, examples include thermal, sorptive or headspace extraction, with subsequent preconcentration, for instance, by thermal desorption (TD).

The two year international project "Preparation of active packaging with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity based on astaxanthin and chitosan",1 which started in 2009, was funded by FONCYCIT (Fund for International Cooperation of Science and Technology between the European Union and Mexico).

This Tuesday morning session will be presided over by Mary Ellen McNally of DuPont Crop Protection (Wilmington, Delaware).

Thermo Scientific Application Note

Thermo Scientific Application Note

Agilent Application Note

A simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with ultraviolet (UV) detection was developed to analyse phenylurea herbicides: – monuron, diuron, linuron, metazachlor and metoxuron – in three soft drink brands and tap water.

An update on the sample preparation and LC–MS-MS tools available for allergen detection, as well advantages of those techniques.

The level of pollutants present in water bodies is most commonly judged against set environmental quality standards (EQSs) that vary among different countries.