Multi-Analyte Method for Antibiotic Residue Determination in Honey Under EU Regulation 2021/808.

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Safety

Background:

• Antibiotic detection in honey is complex due to matrix effects and low residue levels.
• Absence of Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for beehive products complicates monitoring.
• Antibiotic use in apiculture poses risks like antimicrobial resistance and toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• Validate a multi-analyte method for antibiotic identification and quantification in honey.
• Comply with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808 (CIR 2021/808) validation parameters.
• Ensure reliable, sensitive, and selective analysis for food safety and apiculture risk assessment.

Main Methods:

• Developed a simplified extraction protocol using formic acid in ACN:H2O with modified QuEChERS.
• Analyzed extracts using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS).
• Validated the method according to CIR (EU) 2021/808 guidelines for multiple antibiotic classes.

Main Results:

• Method demonstrated robust performance with high recoveries (80.1–117.6%) and strong linearity (R² 0.9429–0.9982).
• Successfully validated for 15 antibiotic residues, with low limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs).
• No target antibiotic residues were detected in 10 commercial Portuguese honey samples.

Conclusions:

• The simplified extraction combined with UHPLC-TOF-MS offers a reliable method for antibiotic determination in honey.
• This validated analytical approach is essential for effective food safety monitoring.
• The method supports risk assessment related to antibiotic use in apiculture.