Application of an HPLC–MS/MS method for mycotoxin analysis in commercial baby foods

This article describes the validation of an analytical method for the detection of 21 mycotoxins in baby food. The analytical method is based on the simultaneous extraction of selected mycotoxins by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) followed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) using a hybrid triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometer (QTRAP®). Information Dependent Acquisition (IDA), an extra confirmation tool for samples that contain the selected mycotoxins, was used. The matrix effects were evaluated, and the corrections for the matrix effects were performed using two calibration approaches: external matrix-matched calibration and internal standard calibration. Matrix-matched calibration was ultimately used for accurate quantification, and the recoveries obtained were generally higher than 70%. The analytical method was applied to the analysis of 35 samples of commercial baby foods. No sample exceeded the maximum limit (ML) fixed by the European Union for these mycotoxins in baby food. However, this survey highlighted the occurrence of mycotoxins in cereal-based infant foods.