Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for Pesticide Residue Detection in Food

We eat fruits, vegetables, and cereals every day, believing that they are safe and healthy. But you might not know that most food items carry pesticide residues on them, which, if not strictly controlled, are harmful to us. They can cause cancer, reproductive toxicity, and damage to the nervous system.

In agri-dependent India, pesticides are widely applied for crop protection. But residues at safe levels are a cause of growing concern. This is where technology like Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) plays a crucial role in detecting and measuring pesticide residues to guarantee public health safety. The use of mass spectrometry in combination with liquid chromatography enhances the precision of pesticide detection in food items.

Let’s understand how this technology functions, why it’s crucial to food safety, and how it’s influencing India’s regulation.

 

Learning LC-MS/MS Technology

• Liquid Chromatography (LC): It distinguishes the elements based on chemical characteristics.
• Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS): employs two mass spectrometers to quantify and detect components based on mass-to-charge.

MS/MS tandem facilitates heightened detection sensitivity in terms of determining the pesticide residues on the part-per-billion (ppb) levels.

Advantages of LC-MS/MS:

• High Sensitivity: It can detect residues of 0.008 µg/g, as confirmed by rice analysis tests.
• Specificity: Distinguishes structurally similar compounds, reducing false positives in intricate food matrices.
• Multi-Residue Analysis: Is capable of detecting more than 200 pesticides at once, such as in basmati rice research.
• Versatility: Suitable for detecting polar and thermally labile pesticides, in contrast to GC-MS.

These abilities render LC-MS/MS the regulatory analytical technique of choice, one that is in accordance with international standards like those of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

 

Pesticide Residues in Indian Food: Research Findings

Studies on Indian fruits and vegetables with pesticide residues show contamination as well as the effectiveness of monitoring schemes.

Key Research Findings:

An Updated Status of Pesticides Currently in Use in India stated that 30% of samples of food contained detectable pesticide residues, 17% of which had residues above Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs).

• Chlorpyrifos, one of the most widely used rice pesticides, surpassed the FSSAI limit of 0.01 mg/kg.
• Chlorpropham in potatoes registered the highest dose of exposure as 2.46 × 10⁶ mg/kg/day.

Monitoring 155 Multi-Class Pesticide Residues in Indian Vegetables over Long Term examined 966 samples taken between 2013-2020 and detected 36 pesticides.

• No residues were seen in 94.4% of the cabbages, 34.5% of the green chili, and 61% of the okras.
• The most widely used pesticides were acetamiprid, cypermethrin, imidacloprid, metalaxyl, and profenofos.
• Long-term exposure assessment indicated no significant health risks for consumers

These studies uncover a dual reality: though residues of pesticides do exist, sophisticated testing guarantees food safety. Yet, detecting banned chemicals such as DDT and endosulfan in some samples shows the necessity of being watchful at all times.

 

Regulatory Mechanism and Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) controls pesticide residues through MRLs for consumer protection.

• In a 2019 FSSAI advisory, 7.2% of rice samples (out of 1,177) contained elevated levels of MRL for Chlorpyrifos, with some samples containing residues up to 0.14 mg/kg.
• Compliance testing must be done to prevent selling tainted food and to uphold public health.

How LC-MS/MS Ensures Food Safety in India

LC-MS/MS is a food safety pillar that is utilized by certified labs like Anacon Laboratories, which is an FSSAI and NABL-accredited lab that provides pesticide residue analysis.

Practical Applications:

• A study using basmati rice employed UPLC-MS/MS and QuEChERS based sample preparation LC-MS/MS to detect more than 200 pesticides.
• Iranian studies demonstrated that LC-MS/MS could detect pesticide residues in rice at levels up to 0.008 µg/g and hence was a suitable option for the food safety requirements of India.

By enabling compliance with FSSAI MRLs, LC-MS/MS keeps contaminated food out of markets, thereby protecting consumer health.

Case Studies and Real-World Applications

• Rice Analysis: LC-MS/MS detected pesticide residues in local and imported rice samples to meet food safety standards and export regulations.
• Vegetable Monitoring: A survey of 966 vegetable samples assured that although residues were found, long-term exposure hazards were low because of effective checking and regulatory actions.

These examples illustrate the major contribution of LC-MS/MS to India’s food safety system, especially for India’s leading agricultural exporter.

LC-MS/MS is a useful method of identifying residues of pesticides so that Indian foods are safe and of the required standard. Researchers verify the existence of residues but also indicate strong monitoring.

For accurate pesticide residue analysis, Anacon Laboratories is a reliable analytical lab in Central India, which offers professional services committed to food safety and quality control.