Highly sensitive and rapid simultaneous method for 45 mycotoxins in baby food samples by HPLC-MS/MS using fast polarity switching

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by fungal molds on food crops. For consumer food safety, quality control of food and beverages has to assay such contaminants. Depending on the potency of the mycotoxin and the use of the food, the maximum allowed level is defined by legislation. Baby food is particularly critical. For example, European Commission has fixed the maximum level of Aflatoxin B1 and M1 to 0.1 and 0.025 μg/kg, respectively, in baby food or milk.
Therefore, a sensitive method to assay mycotoxins in complex matrices is mandatory. In order to ensure productivity of laboratory performing such assays, a unique rapid method able to measure as much mycotoxins as possible independently of the sample origin is also needed.
In this study, we tested three kind of samples: baby milk powder, milk thickening cereals (flour, rice and tapioca) and a vegetable puree mixed with cereals.