Stable and reliable method for simultaneous quantification of five neonicotinoid residues in plant-derived foods

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are widely used insecticides, and their residues in plant-derived foods have raised global food safety concerns. To address this, a stable and reliable method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of five NEOs in diverse plant-derived foods, showing excellent linearity (R² > 0.9993), low limit of quantification (1.00 μg/kg), and recoveries of 79.9-103% with RSDs below 7.72%. Using this method, the residues of NEOs were analysed in common plant-derived food from multiple regions. The residue levels and compositional profiles of NEOs were analysed, revealing median residue concentrations of 1.06-1.67 μg/kg. Seasonal variation was evident, with ∑NEOs levels in summer vegetables significantly higher than in autumn (p < 0.01) and winter (p < 0.001). In addition, dietary exposure estimates remained well below the established reference dose. This study provides a validated analytical framework and a multi-dimensional benchmark dataset for monitoring five NEOs residues, offering insights to support regulatory strategies and improve plant-derived food safety.