Rapid, high throughput quantitation of thujone in absinthe by UHPLC-MS-MS

Absinthe is an anise-flavored, distilled alcoholic beverage that was vilified and banned in many countries before the first World War. It was targeted because the beverage was alleged to have hallucinogenic effects; with the compound thujone thought to be the culprit. By the 1990’s, the advent of new food safety laws and a renewed interest in absinthe led to a lifting of the ban in many countries, but in some areas legal limits on thujone levels remain. In order to comply with food and beverage safety laws, a rapid and accurate measurement of thujone in absinthe is required. To accomplish this, a UHPLC-MS-MS method meeting these requirements of selectivity, sensitivity, and speed was developed.