Application of MRM profiling for rapid detection and certification of chemical compounds in beef samples

• Grant number: 25/22519-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: January 15, 2026
• End date: January 14, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Clairmont Feitosa de Lima Gomes
• Grantee: Karen Chibana Ferreira
• Supervisor: Christina Ramires Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Purdue University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/02884-8 - Suspect screening and non-target strategies to evaluate the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern in environmental and food samples, BP.DR

Abstract

The presence of chemicals of concern in food has become an increasingly relevant issue due to the long-term adverse risks they may pose to human health. Beef stands out in this context because of its ability to accumulate antibiotics, hormones, veterinary drugs, and other substances in muscle tissue over the two to three years preceding slaughter. These compounds are commonly administered to cattle for prophylactic, therapeutic, and growth-promoting purposes. Moreover, toxic substances already recognized for their environmental persistence, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, insecticides, and mycotoxins, can also accumulate in animal tissues through the ingestion of contaminated water and feed grains. To address this challenge, the present project proposes innovative strategies, notably the use of multiple reaction monitoring profiling (MRM profiling), a fast and straightforward technique for the suspect screening of chemicals of concern in beef. This approach offers significant advantages, as samples can be directly infused into the mass spectrometer following minimal preparation steps, enabling the monitoring of approximately 100 compounds in about two minutes. Consequently, this reduces analysis time, costs, and the consumption of large volumes of organic solvents. Currently, sensitive detection of chemical residues in beef is time-consuming and economically impractical for the frequency of analyses required. Therefore, the development of a faster, more accessible, and cost-effective approach is essential to strengthen monitoring and control practices.