Development and application of a method for the analysis of two trichothecenes: Deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin in meat in China by HPLC–MS/MS

A reliable and sensitive method was developed and successfully applied for the determination of deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin simultaneously in pig dorsal muscle, pig back fat and chicken muscle by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) analysis. Limit of detection of deoxynivalenol and T-2 was 0.02μg/kg and 0.007μg/kg, and limit of quantification of deoxynivalenol and T-2 was 0.07μg/kg and 0.02μg/kg, respectively. Sixty-six meat samples were analyzed and deoxynivalenol was detected in the samples of pig back fat, with concentrations lower than 0.5μg/kg, and T-2 toxin was detected in the samples of pig dorsal muscle, pig back fat and chicken muscle, with concentrations lower than 0.5μg/kg. The results of sample analysis show that only trace residues of deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin were detected in the samples analyzed. ► The analytical method of deoxynivalenol(DON) and T-2 toxin in meat was developed. ► The analytical method is reliable and sensitive. ► DON and T-2 were detected in some of the meat sample analyzed. ► It is the first report on the residues of DON and T-2 in meat in china.