Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
by reducing or eliminating the need for analyzing the same sample multiple times with
methods that are sensitive to and selective for just few analytes per run.
7.6 CONCLUSIONS
The system for the surveillance of residues of chemical substances in biological matrices
that form the basis of our diet is currently based on analytical methods that target
molecules or classes of molecules. However, this targeted approach is beginning to face
competition from innovative technologies in research laboratories developing future
monitoring techniques. Indeed, the analytical power of high-resolution mass spec-
trometers, especially when used in full scan mode, makes it possible to envision an
exclusive novel strategy for screening chemical residues in food products. Molecular
identi
cation
of the metabolites and decomposition products of these substances. Researchers are
paying attention to understanding the mechanisms at work in the search for target
biomarkers of veterinary medicinal products, whether authorized with regulatory MRL
or illegal and occurring through either misuse or fraud. These advances in analytical
instrumentation, methodologies, and software packages will probably allow us to
suggest future proposals for modification to the food safety surveillance system, with
changes to the methods of chemical analysis from targeted to nontargeted modes as
shown in the two examples presented in this chapter. These changes and the potential to
widely open up these methods to include numerous other medicinal substances are,
currently, quite limited not only by the vast variety of chemical properties of these
compounds belonging to the different classes of veterinary medicinal products but also
by the need for improvement of the sensitivity in the MS detection.
Despite these limitations, we can expect HRMS to become more prevalent, helping
in more rapid and accurate analysis of nontarget analytes in a high-throughput style. It
could further help enforce stringent regulations in connection with food safety and
public health protection. In addition, the constant development of new algorithms for
automatic and statistical interpretation of HRMS data will continue to facilitate the
elucidation of the structure of unknown/untargeted veterinary medicinal product
residues in food analysis.
cation by measuring the accurate mass would rapidly prioritize the identi
REFERENCES
1. Regulation (EC) No. 470/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May
2009 laying down Community procedures for the establishment of residue limits of
pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin.
Off. J. Eur. Union
2009
22.
2. US-FDA Code for Federal Regulations. Title 21: Food and Drugs, Chapter I: Food and
Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Subchapter E: Animal
Drugs, Feed and Related Products, Part 556: Tolerances for Residues of New Animal
Drugs in Food.
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