Optimized SPE-UPLC-MS/MS Method for Sensitive Determination of Cereulide in Complex InfantFormula Matrices

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Microbiology

Background:

• Cereulide, a heat-stable toxin from *Bacillus cereus*, causes emetic syndrome.
• Infant formula contamination with cereulide poses health risks due to infants' immature systems.
• Existing analytical methods struggle with infant formula matrices, showing poor sensitivity and large deviations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a matrix-specific, sensitive, and reliable analytical method for cereulide in infant formula.
• To address the challenges posed by infant formula's unique composition and processing.

Main Methods:

• Development of a method using solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS).
• Incorporation of a hydration-assisted extraction step tailored for infant formula.
• Optimization of SPE clean-up and chromatographic conditions to minimize matrix effects and enhance reproducibility.

Main Results:

• The developed method demonstrated excellent linearity (R² > 0.999) over the range of 0.1-10 μg·L⁻¹.
• Achieved low limits of detection (0.03 μg·kg⁻¹) and quantification (0.1 μg·kg⁻¹).
• Reported acceptable recoveries (94.4-110.3%) with high precision (RSDs < 3.7%).
• Successfully applied to commercial infant formula, identifying positive samples.

Conclusions:

• The SPE-UPLC-MS/MS method with hydration-assisted extraction is a reliable tool for cereulide determination in infant formula.
• This method improves food safety surveillance and risk assessment for infant exposure to cereulide.
• The validated method overcomes limitations of existing techniques for this specific matrix.