Pressurised liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry to determine high-intensity sweeteners in fish samples

Simultaneous analysis of natural and artificial sweeteners in sugar-free drinks and urine samples by column-switching UHPLC-charged aerosol detection method

Sweeteners are considered an alternative to high-calorie foods or drinks and have been widely used globally. However, the simultaneous separation and detection of high-polarity natural and artificial sweeteners are challenging owing to their broad-spectrum physical and chemical properties. Herein, we developed a column-switching UHPLCCAD method and used it for detecting and quantitating 12 sweeteners, including natural sweeteners (erythritol, mannitol, xylitol, sorbitol and stevioside) and artificial sweeteners (acesulfame potassium, saccharin sodium salt, sodium cyclamate, sucralose, aspartame, alitame and neotame). The LOD and LOQ were 0.932-6.25 μg/mL and 3.10-20.83 μg/mL, respectively, and the method demonstrated excellent linearity (R² ≥ 0.9990), good precision (intraday and interday precision was 0.59-6.88 %), and high recovery (average recoveries were 85.16-108.64 %). This method was applied to determine the sweeteners in 15 sugar-free drinks purchased from the local Chinese supermarkets. What's more, natural sweetener erythritol and artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium were suspected over addition in sugar-free drinks. Meanwhile the method was applied to the sweeteners in various sugar-free drinks and the dynamic monitoring of transit and excretion in vivo after drinking. Those prove that the method can be used to the detection of sugar free drinks and quality control of the sweeteners. The study highlights the potential of UHPLC-charged aerosol detection technology in detection of multiple components in food industry.

Sweeteners in food samples: An update on pretreatment and analysis techniques since 2015

Sweeteners play an irreplaceable role in daily life and have been found in multitudinous food products. However, excessive or unreasonable intake of sweeteners as food additives brings about untoward problems due to the accumulation in the human body. Therefore, a comprehensive review of different sweeteners' pretreatment and determination methods is urgently needed. In this review, we comprehensively reviewed the progress of different pretreatment and detection methods for sweeteners in various food, focusing on the latest development since 2015. Current state-of-the-art technologies, such as headspace single-drop microextraction, ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction, solid-phase microextraction, two-dimensional liquid chromatography, and high-resolution mass spectrometry, are thoroughly discussed. The advantages, disadvantages, critical comments, and future perspectives are also proposed. This review is expected to provide rewarding insights into the future development and broad application of pretreatment and detection methods for sweeteners in different food samples.

Suspect screening of pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, pesticides, and other emerging contaminants in Argentinean Piaractus mesopotamicus, a fish species used for local consumption and export

The widespread distribution of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) is a major concern due to their potential effects on human health and the environment. The insufficient sewage treatment plant infrastructures is a global problem most accentuated in less developed countries and results in the discharge of CECs to water bodies. Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is a ray-finned freshwater fish species native to the Paraná basin. It is also the most produced aquaculture fish species in Argentina since 2012. Though uninvestigated to date, the occurrence of CECs in pacu may be of high relevance due to production volumes and relevance to human exposure through fish consumption. In this study, we applied a high-resolution mass spectrometry screening method to qualitatively analyze over 100 CECs in pacu. Four extraction/cleanup methods were tested on pooled pacu fillet, including solid-phase extraction and QuEChERS. The method that produced the highest number of detections was selected for further analysis of pacu purchased in supermarkets and fish markets in Argentina between 2017 and 2020. Residues of pesticides, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, plasticizers, sweeteners, drug metabolites, stimulants, and illegal drugs were detected in the samples. A total of 38 CECs were detected, ranging between 24 and 35 CECs per individual sample. 100% of the samples had positive detections of caffeine, 1,7-dimethylxanthine, xanthine, benzoylecgonine, methylparaben, ethylparaben, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), metolachlor, carbendazim, salicylic acid, 2,4-D, saccharin, cyclamate, and dodecanedioic acid. Mappings generated with correspondence analysis were used to explore similarities/dissimilarities among the detected compounds. To our knowledge this is the first report of saccharin, cyclamate, 2,4 - D, carbendazim, metolachlor, ethylparaben, propylparben, bisphenol A, DEHP, and benzotriazole in fish from Argentina, and the first report on the presence of lisinopril, metropolol acid and dodecanedioic acid in fish worldwide.

Analytical Methods for Determination of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners in Foodstuffs

Sweeteners have been used in food for centuries to increase both taste and appearance. However, the consumption of sweeteners, mainly sugars, has an adverse effect on human health when consumed in excessive doses for a certain period, including alteration in gut microbiota, obesity, and diabetes. Therefore, the application of non-nutritive sweeteners in foodstuffs has risen dramatically in the last decade to substitute sugars. These sweeteners are commonly recognized as high-intensity sweeteners because, in a lower amount, they could achieve the same sweetness of sugar. Regulatory authorities and supervisory agencies around the globe have established the maximum amount of these high-intensity sweeteners used in food products. While the regulation is getting tighter on the market to ensure food safety, reliable analytical methods are required to assist the surveillance in monitoring the use of high-intensity sweeteners. Hence, it is also necessary to comprehend the most appropriate method for rapid and effective analyses applied for quality control in food industries, surveillance and monitoring on the market, etc. Apart from various analytical methods discussed here, extraction techniques, as an essential step of sample preparation, are also highlighted. The proper procedure, efficiency, and the use of solvents are discussed in this review to assist in selecting a suitable extraction method for a food matrix. Single- and multianalyte analyses of sweeteners are also described, employing various regular techniques, such as HPLC, and advanced techniques. Furthermore, to support on-site surveillance of sweeteners’ usage in food products on the market, non-destructive analytical methods that provide practical, fast, and relatively low-cost analysis are widely implemented.