Development of a multi-residue method for the simultaneous detection of pesticides and mycotoxins in infant formulae

Abstract

Infant formulas mainly consist of cow or soy milk, added with vegetable oils, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, in which the raw material may be contaminated with pesticides and mycotoxin residues. As a result, research on the incidence of mycotoxins and pesticide residues has gained notoriety from researchers and regulatory agencies around the world. However, there are few studies in Brazil on the occurrence of pesticides and aflatoxins in infant formula sold nationwide. Therefore, the present work seeks to develop a multi-residue method for the analysis of 23 pesticides and 4 mycotoxins of the aflatoxin class in samples of infant formula commercialized in Brazil. The QuEChERS technique will be used for sample preparation, and ultra-high performance chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass detector (UHPLC-MS/MS) will be used as the detection system. The data generated with this project will serve as support for national and international regulatory agencies regarding chemical contaminants in infant foods, aiming to mitigate the exposure of babies.