FOOD SAFETY: DETECTING BANNED ANTIBIOTICS IN FOOD PRODUCTS

From the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Teramo, advanced methodologies for detecting nitrofurans in meat

Researchers from the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale in Teramo (IZS) have developed an advanced method for detecting nitrofurans in animal muscle tissues. Once widely used in veterinary medicine to treat or prevent infections in aquaculture and livestock, these antibiotics have been banned in the European Union since 1993 for use in animals intended for food production, due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic risks.

Despite the European ban, surveillance for the possible presence of these drugs in animal-derived food products must remain high. Their metabolites can persist in tissues for a long time, making accurate and reliable detection techniques essential.

The method developed by IZS-TE, validated according to a protocol that complies with the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808 and published in the scientific journal Microchemical Journal, uses liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to simultaneously identify five main nitrofuran metabolites, even at very low concentrations (0.4 micrograms per kilogram). A specific technique to compensate for variability that may occur from one sample to another was used. In other words, the accuracy and reliability of the results remain very high despite differences among the various muscle tissues analysed.

“This methodological development - says Giorgio Saluti, Chief chemist at the Bromatology and Drug Residue Department, lead author of the paper - can help strengthen the effectiveness of controls on the presence of prohibited compounds in food products, providing regulatory authorities and laboratories with a more reliable tool to monitor food safety. This will lead to higher consumer confidence in the quality and safety of foods”.

: Giorgio Saluti

DETERMINATION OF NITROFURAN METABOLITES IN MUSCLE BY LC-MS/MS AND LC-MS/MS/MS: ALTERNATIVE VALIDATION ACCORDING TO COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2021/808

Saluti, G., Ricci, M., Castellani, F., Rosato, R., Colagrande, M. N., Manucci, A., & Scortichini, G. (2024). Determination of nitrofuran metabolites in muscle by LC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS/MS: Alternative validation according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808. Microchemical Journal, 110197.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2024.110197