A multi-analyte LC–MS/MS method for the analysis of 23 mycotoxins in different sorghum varieties: The forgotten sample matrix

•Quantification of twenty three mycotoxins in three sorghum varieties: white, cream/yellow and red sorghum using LC–MS/MS.•Matrix matched calibration was necessary for accurate quantification.•Robust and efficient sample preparation protocol resulting in low detection limit of mycotoxins. An LC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for the detection and quantification of 23 mycotoxins in different varieties of sorghum. The method performance characteristics were as follows: suitable linearity ranges for all 23 mycotoxins with p-value >0.05; limits of detection (1.2–50μg/kg), limits of quantification (2.5–100μg/kg), repeatability (RSDr, 7–22%), intermediate precision (RSDR, 14–44%) and apparent recovery (0.2–11%, expressed as bias). The method was applied to analyze 10 samples obtained from retail shops in Belgium (n=8) and Germany (n=2). Nine of the 10 samples (90%) were positive for the following mycotoxins: aflatoxin B1 (50μg/kg), alternariol monomethyl ether (