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 Microbial and Chemical Food Safety: Wyndmoor, PA
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ARS Home Northeast Area Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania Eastern Regional Research Center Microbial and Chemical Food Safety Research





- Lehotay, Steven
- Chen, Guoying
- Sapozhnikova, Yelena
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- Publications
- Food Safety, (Animal and Plant Products) (108)

Research Project: **Location:
                            Microbial and Chemical Food Safety** Project Number: 8072-42000-088-000-D
                        
                        Project Type: In-House Appropriated Start Date: Jan 19, 2021
                        
                        End Date: Jan 18, 2026 **Objective:**
                        
                        Objective 1:  Transfer the QuEChERS mega-method to FSIS for the replacement of separate methods for pesticides, veterinary drugs, and other contaminants in foods.
Sub-objective 1A:  Transfer the QuEChERSER mega-method.
Sub-objective 1B:  Extend the QuEChERSER mega-method to plant and fungal toxins in pertinent matrices.
Sub-objective 1C:  Conduct an inter-laboratory validation of the QuEChERSER mega-method.

Objective 2:  Evaluate and compare triple quadrupole MS/MS analysis in both fast GC and UHPLC using high-resolution orbital ion trap MS/MS.
Sub-objective 2A:  Directly compare results from shared final extracts by the different analytical methods.
Sub-objective 2B:  Speed mega-method monitoring via 5 min each isocratic UHPLC with dual column switching backflushing and ITSP+LPGC MS-based analyses.

Objective 3:  Develop novel multi-element analytical methods for heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead in foods.
Sub-objective 3A:  Develop volatile species generation (VSG) methods for determination of Pb and Cd in foods.
Sub-objective 3B:  Achieve high productivity based on dual-mode VSG and pneumatic nebulization sample introduction.

Objective 4:  Develop methods of analysis for emerging chemical contaminants not routinely monitored in FSIS regulated products.
Sub-objective 4A:  Identify emerging contaminants, including food packaging chemicals that migrate into foods.
Sub-objective 4B:  Validate QuEChERSER for targeted emerging contaminants found to be of concern in FSIS-regulated foods in Sub-objective 4A. 
Sub-objective 4C:  Conduct a market survey of food samples to study occurrence and levels of these contaminants to generate data for risk assessment. **Approach:**
                        
                        Develop and transfer analytical technologies and methods to stakeholders that are effective and efficient for the screening, quantification and/or identification of chemical contaminants of concern in foods.  Assist implementation to stakeholders of high-throughput monitoring for hundreds of pesticides, veterinary drugs, and environmental/emerging contaminants in the same sample extract in a matter of minutes using an automated process, including data handling and analyte identification.  More specifically:  1) transfer the QuEChERS mega-method to USDA-FSIS for the replacement of separate methods for pesticides, veterinary drugs, and other contaminants in foods; 2) evaluate and compare triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (MS) analysis in both fast gas chromatography and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography using high-resolution orbital ion trap MS/MS; 3) develop novel multi-element analytical methods for heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead in foods; and 4) develop methods of analysis for emerging chemical contaminants not routinely monitored in FSIS-regulated products.  The new methods and techniques will be validated to ensure their quality for reliable dissemination.


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