Analysis of Dioxins in Foods and Feeds Using GC-MS/MS

Until recently, the analysis of dioxins in foods and feeds was performed using magnetic sector GC-MS (GC-HRMS), which provided highly accurate quantitation. In recent years, the quantitative accuracy of GC-MS/MS has improved significantly. Accordingly, this method has become officially recognized in the EU as can be used for analyzing dioxins (EU589/2014, 644/2017). In this investigation, dioxins were analyzed in 44 types and 201 samples of foods and feeds using the GCMS-TQ8050 and the GC-MS/MS method package for dioxins in foods, which is compliant with EU regulations. Additionally, the GC-MS/MS analysis results were compared with the analysis results from GC-HRMS, to compare the quantitative capabilities of both methods. For the comparison, the TEQ ratio was calculated for various samples. From the comparison of the results, for samples with a higher TEQ than 0.060 pg/uL (TEQ when any of the compounds was detected at a higher concentration than LOQ), GC-MS/MS and GC-HRMS provided similar TEQ values in at least 98 % of the samples. Accordingly, it was evident that analysis with GCMS-TQ8050 and method package provides a quantitative capability equivalent to that from GC-HRMS for samples at the concentration levels required for analysis.