Simultaneous determination of trichothecenes A, B, and D in maize food products by LC-MS-MS

Two new methods of analysis, based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, for simultaneous determination of trichothecenes A, B, and D in maize flour and oil have been developed and validated in accordance with European Commission decision 2002/657/EC (recovery, CC alpha, CC beta, and precision). The trichothocenes were extracted from maize flour by matrix solid-phase dispersion, with recoveries >= 79%, and from maize oil by liquid-liquid extraction, with recoveries >= 78%. Limits of quantitation ranged between 0.03 and 50 mu g kg(-1), depending on the electrospray response to each analyte and on the matrix. Monitoring of flour and oil samples with this HPLC-MS-MS method revealed the presence of deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, and diacetoxyscirpenol at very low concentrations.