Easy and Inexpensive Method for Multiclass Analysis of 41 Food Contact Related Contaminants in Fatty Food by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Food contact materials (FCMs) may release their chemical components into food and thus raise safety concerns. This paper attempted to study the presence of four major groups of FCM-related endocrine disruptors in fatty food: dialkyl phthalates, bisphenols, printing ink photoinitiators, and polyfluoroalkyl substances. All 41 target compounds were analyzed simultaneously by means of liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The sample preparation was significantly streamlined to reduce analysis costs by employing acetonitrile extraction, extract modification by water, and refrigeration at 5 degrees C. The new method was validated and applied to 60 real samples, including edible oils, butter, and chocolate, where 16 target compounds were measured at levels <= 13000 ng/g. The study also described the blank level increase and sensitivity loss caused by impurities present in the HPLC methanol solvent.