QuEChERS - UHPLC-ToF-MS Method for Regulated and Emerging Mycotoxins Including Ergot Alkaloids in Rice
Ana R S Mateus1,2,3,4, Filipa Carreiró1,2, Sílvia C Barros1
1National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV), I.P., Rua dos Lágidos, Lugar da Madalena, 4485-655 Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal.
Journal of AOAC International
|July 17, 2026
Summary
A new method simultaneously detects 23 mycotoxins and ergot alkaloids in rice, crucial for food safety. This analysis identified common mycotoxins and emerging contaminants like mycophenolic acid in market rice.
Area of Science:
- Food Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Food Safety Analysis
Background:
- Rice is vulnerable to contamination by mycotoxins and ergot alkaloids, posing significant food safety risks.
- Simultaneous determination of regulated, emerging, and ergot alkaloids in rice is challenging due to limited methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a screening method for the simultaneous determination of 11 mycotoxins and 12 ergot alkaloids in rice.
- To assess the prevalence of these contaminants in commercially available rice samples from the Portuguese market.
Main Methods:
- A QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Rugged, and Safe) method was coupled with Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-ToF-MS).
- Chromatographic parameters and extraction approaches (SLE vs. QuEChERS) were optimized for sensitivity and recovery.
- The method was validated according to Regulation (EU) 2023/2782 and applied to 41 rice samples.
Main Results:
- The method achieved recoveries between 71-119% with acceptable precision (RSDr ≤ 20%, RSDR ≤ 25%).
- Aflatoxin G2 and sterigmatocystin were frequently detected; three samples exceeded the EU legal limit for total aflatoxins (4 µg/kg).
- Mycophenolic acid, an emerging contaminant, was detected in two rice samples.
Conclusions:
- The developed QuEChERS-UHPLC-ToF-MS method is sensitive, selective, and precise for multi-analyte surveillance in rice.
- The findings underscore the importance of monitoring both regulated and emerging mycotoxins, as well as ergot alkaloids, in rice.
- This method enables simultaneous screening of 23 critical analytes, enhancing food safety protocols.
