Validation and application of an analytical method for the determination of mycotoxins in crackers by UPLC-MS/MS

Abstract An analytical method applying ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was validated for the determination of aflatoxins M2, M1, G2, G1, B2, B1, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, fumonisins B1 and B2, hydrolyzed fumonisins B1 and B2, zearalenone and sterigmatocystin in crackers. The obtained recoveries (70 to 110%) and relative standard deviations (< 13%) were considered satisfactory. Method limits of quantification ranged from 0.20 µg kg-1 (sterigmatocystin) to 12.27 µg kg-1 (deoxynivalenol). The validated method was then applied for mycotoxin determination in 60 cracker samples (cream crackers and water and salt crackers) obtained from the metropolitan area of the state of Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisin B1 were found, respectively, in 100, 50 and 28% of the analyzed samples. The maximum permissible limits established by Brazilian legislation for deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were not exceeded in the analyzed samples.