Research Publications (Food Safety)

In this research, a straightforward sample treatment for multiresidue pesticide evaluation of onion samples was developed using the solid-phase extraction/quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and secure (SPE/QuEChERS) method. The suggested technique is based on acetonitrile liquid-liquid partitioning, then follows dispersive solid-phase extraction with ZrO2 particles for extract purification. ZrO2 is synthesized via co precipitation and analyzed via XRD, FTIR, and SEM.

Pigeon is an essential poultry with tasty meat and high protein content, and its breeding and consumption of meat have been increasing annually. Nevertheless, technical bottlenecks still exist in detecting veterinary drug residues in pigeon muscle. A rapid and sensitive method for determining 67 veterinary drugs belonging to six major groups (quinolones, sulfonamides, macrolides, hormones, tetracyclines, and insecticides) was developed in pigeon muscle.

Paraquat dichloride is a widely used herbicide that poses a significant threat to human health. Its prohibition in several countries highlights the need for the development of a highly sensitive device capable of detecting minimum concentrations of this herbicide in food matrices. In this study, we developed a lateral flow test strip using gold nanoparticles conjugated to anti-paraquat antibodies for the visual and quantitative detection of paraquat in food samples.

Veterinary drugs (VDs) are regulated to prevent their abuse or misuse and protect humans that consume animal-based food products from exposure to VD residues. VD residues are managed according to the maximum residue limits (MRLs) or by prohibiting the use of VDs based on their residual properties and toxicities. However, all VD residues, even those that are not managed by MRLs, in animal-based food products will be regulated for public health improvement.

Pymetrozine, a member of the azomethine pyridine group, is gaining popularity among paddy farmers due to its anti-feeding properties against homopteran insects like planthoppers, whiteflies, and aphids on a wide range of fields, fruits, and ornamental crops.

Antibiotics are those drugs that can be extracted from some microorganisms and they are effective against other organisms, such as bacteria, by either inhibiting the growth of bacteria or by killing them. The present study was conducted to measure the amount of various antibiotics in the local and imported broiler chickens by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS/Q-TOF).

An analytical method based on enhanced matrix removal–lipid liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (EMR-LC–MS/MS) was developed for the determination of neonicotinoid insecticides and metabolites residues (imidacloprid (IMI) and its metabolites imidacloprid-urea (IMI-U), imidacloprid-olefin (IMI-O), acetamiprid (ACE) and its metabolite N-desmethyl acetamiprid (IM 2–1), dinotefuran (DIN) and its metabolite [1-methy1-3(tetrahydro-3-furylmethy1) urea (DIN-UF), thiacloprid (THIA), thiamet

Lead and cadmium were determined in non-mineralized raw milk samples employing dispersive solid-phase extraction with magnetic restricted access carbon nanotubes (M-RACNTs), followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry analysis. M-RACNTs were obtained by modifying carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with magnetite nanoparticles and then covering with a chemically crosslinked bovine serum albumin (BSA) external layer.

Pesticides have been widely used to control pests and weeds during food production or storage, but when used incorrectly, they can cause damage to human health and the environment. Thus, this study aimed to develop and validate a multiresidue method for the determination of pesticides in potatoes, as well as to evaluate the concentrations in the peel and pulp of the tuber.

An effective microextraction, namely, in situ formation of supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS) method, was investigated for the determination of neonicotinoid insecticides prior to high performance liquid chromatographic analysis. The microextraction method has been utilized for the first time in the literature for separation and preconcentration of neonicotinoid insecticides.

Cadmium (Cd) is a potential carcinogen and can easily trigger human renal and hepatic dysfunction. Ingestion of Cd-contaminated food is considered the principal way of human exposure to Cd. Bioavailability evaluation has been utilized to assess human health risk, while the correlation of the in cellulo and in vivo Cd bioavailability in foods is not clear.

Seaweeds are known for their nutritional benefits; however, they contain one of the highest levels of arsenic content. Arsenic species are found in various oxidation states in the environment, where inorganic arsenic is more toxic than organic ones.

In this study, an optimized QuEChERS method with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination of mesosulfuron-methyl and diflufenican in wheat grain and straw. At the spiking levels of 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg, the average recoveries of five repetitions were 74–98% with RSDs of 1–11%. The LOQs of the two herbicides were both 0.01 mg/kg for wheat grain and wheat straw.

Aldrin and Mirex are organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) considered toxic to human and animal health. Although their use has been banned for decades, these compounds persist in several environmental and food samples, including honey.

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a quick and easy method for the quantification of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn) by high definition X-ray fluorescence (HDXRF) spectrometry in scallops. The optimal moisture content (less than 7.5%), particle size (0.180 mm), sample weight (0.70 g), and measurement time (600 s) of scallops using HDXRF were determined.

The aim of this paper is to develop and validate a method, using GC–MS and QuEChERS, for the determination of fungicide residues in bananas produced and commercialized in the Cariri Region — Ceará/Brazil. The extraction procedure, by the QuEChERS-citrate method, allowed obtaining the matrix extract free of pesticides, used for the analytical curves (matrix-matched calibration).

In this work, a magnetic covalent organic framework (COF) named Fe3O4@TpPa-NO2 was designed and synthesized by a solvothermal method employing 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine (Pa-NO2) as the organic units. Fe3O4@TpPa-NO2 was explored as an adsorbent for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of four pyrethroid insecticides. Fe3O4@TpPa-NO2 displayed excellent adsorption capacity in the adsorption test of pyrethroid insecticides.

The detection method for flurtamone enantiomers in soil and five farm products (wheat, maize, sorghum, soybeans and pea) was established using modified QuEChERS method combined with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The Box-Behnken design (BBD) of response surface methodology was used to optimize the enantioseparation parameters of flurtamone on Chiralpak IG-3 column.

India has achieved its food security through the green revolution and technological revolution, although food safety is still not realized. Subsequently, agricultural runoffs, industrial wastes and domestic sewages continuously contaminate the water and the associated livelihood through several contaminants. Pesticides and their residues, which function as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), influence the food web through water resources, among other things.

Macrocyclic lactones (MLs) are widely used as antiparasitic agents in the livestock, monensin (ionophore antibiotics) is recommended in cattle feed as growth-promoting additives, and fipronil is a drug prescripted in animal production to control ectoparasitic infestations. However, the use of these drugs in food-producing animals may lead to the appearance of their residues in meat and offals.

Fungicides are applied from plant development to grape production, transport, and storage. Even after fruit processing, residues of these compounds can be present in grape by-products such as wine and juice.

Norfloxacin is an antibiotic in the fluoroquinolone family licenced for use in animals. However, residues in animal products can have negative consequences for consumers. As a result, residue detection in various food matrices must be considered. Norfloxacin accumulates in animal-derived foods, causing deleterious consequences in humans such as foetal deformity, renal failure and drug resistance.

Agricultural product contamination by endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) residues is an international public health issue and requires continuously stringent administration. A high-throughput biotin-streptavidin-amplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BA-ELISA) for detection of progesterone (P4) has been established to be applied in determining milk samples.

Metribuzin is a broad-spectrum herbicide that allows effective weed management in fields but the contamination of metribuzin on the environment and humans is a threat to its application. To better monitor the residue of metribuzin in practical application, an HPLC–MS/MS method for the determination of herbicide metribuzin and its metabolites DA, DK, and DADK residues in potato tuber was developed. The matrix effects were also investigated in this work.

In recent decades safety of food has played a pivotal role from raw material till it reaches the consumer. The food consumed may contain unwanted contaminants, which may impose severe health implications on the consumers. Instrumental techniques like HPLC, GCMS, LCMS, AAS, FTIR, and NIRS detect the contaminants, but the need for low cost, continuous, specific, real-time, and rapid contaminant detection method is required. To meet these essentials, a biosensor stands as a powerful tool.