European food safety regulations set some of the world's most stringent standards for protecting consumers from harmful contaminants. At the heart of these protections lies EU Regulation 1881/2006 (now consolidated as Regulation 2023/915), which establishes maximum levels for contaminants ranging from mycotoxins and heavy metals to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). For laboratories performing food contaminant testing, understanding both the regulatory framework and the analytical workflows required to achieve compliance is essential.
This comprehensive guide explores the four major contaminant categories regulated under EU legislation, details the sample preparation techniques that underpin accurate testing, and highlights the critical role of nitrogen evaporation technology in modern food safety workflows—with particular emphasis on LC-MS/MS methodologies that have become the gold standard for mycotoxin and multi-residue contaminant analysis.
Understanding EU Regulation 1881/2006: The Foundation of Food Safety
Originally established in 2006, EU Regulation 1881/2006 created a harmonized framework for controlling contaminant levels across all European Union member states. After nearly 50 amendments over 17 years, the European Commission replaced this regulation with Regulation (EU) 2023/915 in April 2023, consolidating all previous changes into a single, comprehensive document.
The regulation operates on the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), meaning maximum levels are set as strictly as possible while still being attainable through good agricultural, fishery, and manufacturing practices. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides the scientific backbone for these limits through continuous risk assessment, evaluating toxicological data and dietary exposure patterns across European populations.
Maximum levels apply to the edible portion of foods unless otherwise specified, and products exceeding these limits cannot be placed on the EU market. Member States monitor compliance through regular testing programs, with occurrence data reported to EFSA for ongoing evaluation and potential regulatory updates.
The Four Pillars of EU Food Contaminant Regulation
1. Mycotoxins: Fungal Threats in the Food Chain
Mycotoxins—toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi—represent one of the most widespread food safety challenges globally. The EU regulates multiple mycotoxin families, each with distinct toxicological profiles and occurrence patterns.
Major Regulated Mycotoxins:
Aflatoxins are among the most potent naturally occurring carcinogens, produced primarily by Aspergillus species. The regulation covers aflatoxin B1, the sum of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, and aflatoxin M1 in dairy products. Maximum levels range from 0.025 µg/kg for aflatoxin M1 in infant formula to 15 µg/kg for the sum of aflatoxins in nuts destined for further processing. Groundnuts, tree nuts, dried fruits, cereals, spices, and baby foods all face strict limits.
Ochratoxin A forms during improper storage and drying of crops, particularly affecting cereals, dried fruits, coffee, wine, and spices. Recent regulation updates in 2023 tightened maximum levels based on new EFSA risk assessments showing greater health concerns than previously recognized. Limits range from 0.5 µg/kg in baby foods to 20 µg/kg in certain spices like dried chili peppers.
Fusarium toxins including deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone, T-2/HT-2 toxins, and fumonisins contaminate cereals and cereal products worldwide. In July 2024, the EU lowered DON limits in unprocessed cereals from 1,250 to 1,000 ppb, reflecting improved agricultural practices and stricter health protection goals. New binding maximum levels for T-2 and HT-2 toxins were introduced in 2024, with limits ranging from 10 µg/kg for baby foods to 1,250 µg/kg for unprocessed oats.
The health impacts of mycotoxins are severe and varied. Aflatoxins cause liver cancer and immunosuppression. DON (vomitoxin) triggers acute vomiting and chronic effects including growth retardation in children. Zearalenone disrupts reproductive hormones. Ochratoxin A damages kidneys and may be carcinogenic. These diverse toxicity mechanisms necessitate comprehensive multi-mycotoxin testing programs for high-risk commodities.
2. Heavy Metals: Environmental Contaminants with Cumulative Toxicity
Heavy metal contamination enters the food chain through contaminated soil, water, agricultural practices, and industrial pollution. EU regulations set maximum levels for lead, cadmium, mercury, inorganic arsenic, and—most recently—nickel.
Lead (Pb) maximum levels range from 0.010 mg/kg in liquid infant formula to 3.0 mg/kg in food supplements. Lead exposure causes neurodevelopmental deficits in children, cardiovascular effects in adults, and cumulative organ damage even at low doses. Vegetables, cereals, meat, fish, and dairy products all face specific limits designed to minimize dietary exposure.
Cadmium (Cd) limits span from 0.005 mg/kg in milk protein-based baby foods to 3.0 mg/kg in certain seaweed-based supplements. Cadmium accumulates in kidneys and causes renal dysfunction, bone demineralization, and possible carcinogenic effects. Maximum levels were updated in 2021 for numerous food categories, with particularly strict limits for baby foods and high-risk commodities like cocoa products (0.10-0.80 mg/kg depending on cocoa content).
Mercury (Hg) regulations focus on fish and fishery products, where methylmercury bioaccumulates through the aquatic food chain. General fish muscle must not exceed 0.50 mg/kg, while predatory species like shark, swordfish, and tuna face a 1.0 mg/kg limit. Mercury's neurotoxic effects are particularly dangerous for fetal development, making dietary recommendations for pregnant women critical.
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) limits primarily target rice and rice products, with maximum levels from 0.01 mg/kg in baby foods to 0.5 mg/kg for certain rice crackers. Arsenic exposure increases cancer risk and causes skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, and developmental effects.
Nickel (Ni) became the most recent addition to EU heavy metal regulations, with limits taking effect in July 2025 for seaweed products and in July 2026 for cereals. These new limits address allergic reactions and potential carcinogenic concerns associated with dietary nickel exposure.
3. Dioxins and PCBs: Persistent Organic Pollutants
Dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans) and polychlorinated biphenyls represent some of the most toxic man-made chemicals ever released into the environment. Though banned decades ago, their extreme persistence means these compounds continue contaminating food chains worldwide, particularly in fatty foods of animal origin.
The EU regulates 17 dioxin congeners (7 PCDDs and 10 PCDFs) plus 12 dioxin-like PCBs using the WHO Toxic Equivalency Factor (TEF) system. Each congener's concentration is multiplied by its TEF value relative to 2,3,7,8-TCDD (the most toxic form), then summed to calculate total toxicity in picograms WHO-TEQ per gram of fat or wet weight.
Updated Maximum Levels (effective January 2023):
• Poultry: 1.75 pg/g fat (dioxins) + 3.0 pg/g fat (dioxins + dl-PCBs)
• Beef, lamb, goat: 2.5 pg/g fat (dioxins) + 4.0 pg/g fat (dioxins + dl-PCBs)
• Fish and fishery products: 3.5 pg/g wet weight (dioxins) + 6.5 pg/g wet weight (dioxins + dl-PCBs)
• Milk and dairy products: 2.0 pg/g fat (dioxins) + 4.0 pg/g fat (dioxins + dl-PCBs)
• Eggs: 2.5 pg/g fat (dioxins) + 5.0 pg/g fat (dioxins + dl-PCBs)
• Baby foods: 0.1 pg/g wet weight (dioxins) + 0.2 pg/g wet weight (dioxins + dl-PCBs)
Additionally, non-dioxin-like PCBs (indicator PCBs or ICES-6) face maximum levels, typically 40 ng/g fat for most foods of animal origin and vegetable oils.
In 2018, EFSA dramatically reduced the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) from 14 to 2 pg WHO-TEQ/kg body weight—a seven-fold reduction reflecting new evidence on these compounds' toxicity. This means average European dietary exposure now exceeds the TWI by 5-15 times, particularly for children, making continued monitoring and source reduction critical priorities.
4. Process Contaminants and Emerging Concerns
Beyond naturally occurring contaminants, the EU regulates substances formed during food processing, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), acrylamide, and 3-MCPD. Recent additions include perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—persistent "forever chemicals" increasingly detected in fish, eggs, and other foods.
Analytical Workflows: From Sample to Result
Accurate contaminant testing requires sophisticated analytical workflows combining effective sample preparation with sensitive instrumental detection. Modern laboratories rely heavily on LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) for mycotoxins and polar contaminants, and GC-HRMS or GC-MS/MS (gas chromatography with high-resolution or tandem mass spectrometry) for dioxins, PCBs, and non-polar compounds.
The Critical Role of Sample Preparation
Sample preparation accounts for 50-70% of total analytical time and represents the most error-prone step in food contaminant analysis. The objective is threefold: extract target analytes from complex food matrices, remove interfering substances, and concentrate analytes to achieve required detection limits.
General Workflow Structure:
1. Homogenization – Create representative, uniform samples
2. Extraction – Transfer analytes from solid/semi-solid matrices into solvent
3. Cleanup – Remove matrix components (fats, proteins, pigments, sugars)
4. Concentration – Evaporate solvent to increase analyte concentration
5. Reconstitution – Dissolve in LC or GC-compatible mobile phase
6. Analysis – Instrumental detection and quantification
QuEChERS: The Modern Standard for Mycotoxin Analysis
The QuEChERS method (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) has revolutionized multi-residue pesticide and mycotoxin analysis since its introduction in the early 2000s. Originally developed for pesticides in fruits and vegetables, QuEChERS has proven equally effective for mycotoxins in cereals, nuts, dried fruits, and other complex matrices.
QuEChERS Workflow for Mycotoxins:
Step 1: Sample Hydration and Extraction
Begin with 5-10 grams of finely ground sample. Add water (10 mL) and allow hydration for 15 minutes. Add 10 mL acetonitrile acidified with 2% formic acid. The acidic conditions increase extraction efficiency for mycotoxins by adjusting their polarity and solubility characteristics.
Step 2: Salt-Induced Partitioning
Add QuEChERS salt mixture (typically 4 g MgSO₄ + 1 g NaCl) and shake vigorously for 15 minutes. Magnesium sulfate drives water from the organic phase into the aqueous phase through salting-out, while sodium chloride enhances phase separation. Centrifuge at 3,000-4,000 rpm for 5 minutes to achieve clear phase separation.
Step 3: Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction (dSPE) Cleanup
Transfer 1-2 mL of the acetonitrile supernatant to a tube containing cleanup sorbents (typically 150 mg MgSO₄ + 25 mg PSA + 25 mg C18). Primary/secondary amine (PSA) sorbent removes organic acids, fatty acids, and sugars. C18 removes non-polar matrix components like lipids. For highly pigmented samples, add 2.5 mg graphitized carbon black (GCB) to remove chlorophyll and carotenoids.
Step 4: Concentration via Nitrogen Evaporation
This critical step requires evaporating the acetonitrile extract to dryness under a gentle nitrogen stream at 40-50°C. This is where nitrogen evaporators become indispensable.
Step 5: Reconstitution and Analysis
Reconstitute the dried residue in 500 µL-1 mL of LC-MS compatible solvent (typically methanol:water 50:50 or 1:1). Filter through 0.2 µm PTFE syringe filters directly into autosampler vials and analyze by LC-MS/MS.
The entire QuEChERS procedure processes 12 samples in approximately 3 hours, representing a dramatic improvement over traditional liquid-liquid extraction and immunoaffinity cleanup methods. Recoveries for most mycotoxins exceed 70-120% with relative standard deviations below 15%.
Nitrogen Evaporation: The Indispensable Concentration Step
Nitrogen blowdown evaporation has been the workhorse technology for sample concentration in analytical chemistry laboratories since the 1950s. The technique accelerates solvent evaporation by directing a stream of inert nitrogen gas onto the liquid surface, displacing the vapor-saturated air layer and reducing vapor pressure above the sample.
How Nitrogen Evaporation Works:
When solvent evaporates from a sample surface, vapor molecules accumulate in the air immediately above the liquid, creating a saturated boundary layer. This vapor-saturated zone inhibits further evaporation by increasing the partial vapor pressure at the liquid-air interface. Nitrogen gas flowing across the sample surface continuously removes this saturated layer, maintaining a concentration gradient that drives rapid evaporation.
Combining nitrogen flow with gentle heating (typically 40-50°C for acetonitrile, 50-60°C for ethyl acetate) further accelerates evaporation without exposing heat-sensitive compounds to degradation temperatures. This controlled evaporation is particularly critical for volatile and semi-volatile analytes where excessive heat or prolonged evaporation times cause losses.
Critical Advantages for Food Contaminant Analysis:
Simultaneous Multi-Sample Processing – Modern nitrogen evaporators process 6 to 100 samples simultaneously, dramatically improving laboratory throughput. This capacity is essential for food testing laboratories handling dozens of samples daily.
Preservation of Analyte Integrity – The gentle, controlled evaporation prevents thermal degradation of heat-sensitive mycotoxins, pesticides, and other contaminants. Nitrogen's inert nature prevents oxidative degradation that would occur with air-based evaporation.
Versatile Application Range – Nitrogen evaporators handle organic solvents commonly used in food analysis including acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol. They're suitable for extraction volumes from 1 mL to 50 mL, covering the full range of food testing applications.
Integration with Modern Workflows – Nitrogen evaporators integrate seamlessly into QuEChERS, solid-phase extraction (SPE), and liquid-liquid extraction workflows. They serve as the critical bridge between extraction/cleanup and instrumental analysis.
Cost-Effectiveness – Unlike rotary evaporators requiring vacuum pumps and complicated glassware, or centrifugal evaporators demanding expensive consumables, nitrogen blowdown systems have minimal operating costs. On-site nitrogen generation further reduces expenses compared to cylinder or liquid nitrogen sources.
Organomation's N-EVAP Nitrogen Evaporators: Tailored for Food Testing
Organomation has manufactured nitrogen evaporators for analytical laboratories since 1959, when company founder Dr. Neal McNiven invented the first commercially successful nitrogen evaporator. The company's flagship N-EVAP product line exemplifies the flexibility and reliability required for modern food contaminant testing.
N-EVAP Design Features for Food Analysis:
The circular rotating design allows convenient access to all sample positions from the front of the instrument, facilitating easy sample insertion and removal during processing. This accessibility is particularly valuable when monitoring evaporation endpoints for samples with varying solvent volumes and volatilities.
Individual needle valve control at each sample position enables precise adjustment of nitrogen flow to each tube independently. This feature is critical when processing diverse sample types simultaneously—for example, evaporating both high-volume SPE extracts and low-volume QuEChERS aliquots in the same batch, each requiring different flow rates and evaporation times.
Universal sample compatibility eliminates the need for multiple heat blocks or adapters. The spring tensioner system accommodates test tubes from 5 mm to 30 mm outside diameter without modifications. This versatility supports diverse food testing methodologies using different tube formats for different contaminant classes.
Temperature control options include heated water bath models (providing gentle, uniform heating) and heated dry bead bath models (faster heat transfer with adjustable temperature). Unheated ambient-temperature models are available for temperature-sensitive applications. Temperature ranges typically extend to 120°C, covering all common solvent evaporation needs.
Model scalability ranges from 6-position compact units for small laboratories to 24-position and 64-position systems for high-throughput testing facilities. The 20-position automated N-EVAP incorporates timed automation technology and optional integrated nitrogen generation, representing the most advanced system in Organomation's portfolio.
Practical Application in Mycotoxin Analysis:
Consider a typical high-throughput mycotoxin testing scenario: A food safety laboratory receives 48 cereal samples for multi-mycotoxin analysis (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, DON, zearalenone, fumonisins). After QuEChERS extraction and dSPE cleanup, the laboratory has 48 tubes containing 1.5 mL acetonitrile extract each.
Using a 24-position N-EVAP with heated water bath:
1. Load 24 tubes into the evaporator manifold
2. Set water bath temperature to 45°C
3. Adjust individual needle valves to deliver gentle nitrogen flow
4. Monitor evaporation progress—samples reach dryness in 12-16 minutes
5. Remove dried samples, reconstitute in 500 µL methanol:water
6. Load second batch of 24 samples
7. Total evaporation time for 48 samples: approximately 30 minutes
This efficiency enables the laboratory to process 48 samples through the complete QuEChERS workflow in 4-5 hours, achieving analytical throughput necessary for commercial food testing operations.
LC-MS/MS: The Analytical Endpoint for Mycotoxin Detection
Following sample preparation and concentration, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) provides the sensitivity, specificity, and throughput required for regulatory mycotoxin analysis.
LC-MS/MS Advantages:
Multi-Mycotoxin Capability – A single 15-20 minute LC-MS/MS run can simultaneously detect and quantify 10-20 different mycotoxins. This multi-residue capacity dramatically reduces analysis time and cost compared to single-toxin methods.
Exceptional Sensitivity – Triple quadrupole MS/MS systems achieve detection limits in the low parts-per-trillion (ppt) range, well below EU maximum levels. This sensitivity is essential for baby foods with mycotoxin limits as low as 0.10 µg/kg for aflatoxin B1 or 10 µg/kg for T-2/HT-2 toxins.
Unambiguous Identification – Tandem MS using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) or multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) provides exceptional specificity. Each mycotoxin is identified by its precursor ion, multiple product ions, ion ratios, and retention time, meeting stringent EU identification criteria.
Matrix Compatibility – Electrospray ionization (ESI), the predominant ionization technique for mycotoxins, handles complex food extracts with minimal ion suppression when proper cleanup is performed. The QuEChERS method combined with nitrogen evaporation concentration provides extracts clean enough for direct LC-MS/MS analysis.
Typical LC-MS/MS Conditions for Mycotoxins:
Column: C18 reversed-phase, 100-150 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7-3 µm particle size
Mobile Phase A: Water + 0.1% formic acid + 5 mM ammonium acetate
Mobile Phase B: Methanol + 0.1% formic acid
Gradient: 10-95% B over 12 minutes
Flow Rate: 0.3-0.4 mL/min
Injection Volume: 5-10 µL
Ionization: ESI positive (aflatoxins, fumonisins) and ESI negative (DON, zearalenone, ochratoxin A)
MS/MS Mode: Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) with 2-3 transitions per mycotoxin
Heavy Metal Analysis: ICP-MS Workflows
Heavy metal testing follows a different sample preparation paradigm centered on microwave acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Sample Preparation:
Weigh 0.5-2 grams of homogenized food sample into microwave digestion vessels. Add concentrated nitric acid (HNO₃) and, for some matrices, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Seal vessels and subject to microwave-assisted digestion at 180-200°C for 20-30 minutes. This process completely destroys organic matter, leaving clear solutions containing only dissolved metals.
Dilute digested samples with ultrapure water to appropriate concentrations (typically 20-100× dilution) and add internal standards (scandium, rhodium, indium). This dilution step reduces matrix effects and brings metal concentrations into the linear range of the ICP-MS instrument.
ICP-MS Analysis:
The ICP-MS technique provides multi-element capability, ultra-low detection limits (sub-ppb), and wide dynamic range. Argon plasma (6,000-8,000°C) atomizes and ionizes metal atoms, which are then separated by mass-to-charge ratio in a quadrupole or high-resolution mass analyzer.
Helium collision mode or kinetic energy discrimination effectively removes polyatomic interferences common in food matrices (e.g., ⁴⁰Ar¹²C⁺ interfering with ⁵²Cr⁺). Multiple isotopes are monitored for each element, providing confirmation and accounting for spectral interferences.
Detection limits for lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic range from 0.1 to 10 µg/kg (ppb), easily meeting EU maximum level requirements. Analysis time is rapid—typically 2-3 minutes per sample—enabling high-throughput testing.
Dioxins and PCBs: The Gold Standard GC-HRMS Method
Dioxin and PCB analysis represents the most challenging and expensive food contaminant testing, requiring ultra-trace detection (femtogram levels) in complex fatty matrices.
Extensive Sample Cleanup Required:
After lipid extraction (typically 5-30 grams food sample), fat content is determined gravimetrically (maximum 3 grams fat processed). The extract then undergoes a multi-stage cleanup sequence:
1. Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) – Separates low-molecular-weight dioxins/PCBs from high-molecular-weight lipids and proteins
2. Multi-Layer Silica Column – Removes remaining lipids and polar interferences
3. Activated Carbon Column – Separates dioxins/furans from non-dioxin-like PCBs (two separate fractions)
4. Florisil Column – Final polishing step
Concentration by nitrogen evaporation occurs after each cleanup step, requiring precise control to prevent losses of volatile congeners. Final extracts are evaporated to ~20 µL under nitrogen, reconstituted in nonane or dodecane, and spiked with recovery standards.
GC-HRMS Analysis:
EU regulations historically mandated gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) using magnetic sector instruments with resolving power ≥10,000 as the only confirmatory method for dioxins and PCBs. These instruments provide unambiguous identification at femtogram (10⁻¹⁵ gram) levels.
Since 2014, GC-MS/MS (triple quadrupole systems) have been approved for dioxin/PCB analysis in food and feed, provided they meet stringent performance criteria. GC-MS/MS offers advantages including lower equipment costs, easier maintenance, and reduced analysis time, though achieving required sensitivity demands optimal cleanup.
Laboratory Best Practices and Quality Assurance
Ensuring accurate, reproducible food contaminant testing requires comprehensive quality systems:
Method Validation – All analytical methods must be validated for specificity, linearity, accuracy (recovery), precision (repeatability and reproducibility), limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and matrix effects. Validation protocols follow ISO 17025 requirements and EU method performance criteria.
Certified Reference Materials – Analyze certified reference materials (CRMs) and proficiency testing samples regularly to verify method performance. CRMs provide known contaminant concentrations in realistic food matrices, confirming accuracy and traceability.
Matrix-Matched Calibration – Use matrix-matched calibration standards to compensate for matrix effects in LC-MS/MS and GC-MS analysis. Blank matrix extracts spiked with analyte standards provide more accurate quantification than solvent-only standards.
Isotope-Labeled Internal Standards – For dioxins, PCBs, and increasingly for mycotoxins, isotope-labeled (¹³C or deuterated) internal standards correct for losses during sample preparation and matrix effects during analysis.
Contamination Prevention – Avoid cross-contamination through rigorous cleaning protocols, dedicated equipment for high-level and low-level samples, and regular blank analysis. For PFAS analysis, eliminate all PTFE and fluoropolymer materials from sample contact.
Nitrogen Gas Purity – Use nitrogen for evaporation to prevent oxidation and contamination. Nitrogen generators with membrane or pressure swing adsorption technology provide cost-effective, on-demand nitrogen supply.
Future Directions in Food Contaminant Testing
Food safety laboratories face evolving challenges requiring continuous analytical innovation:
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry – HRMS platforms (Q-TOF, Orbitrap) enable suspect screening and untargeted analysis, identifying unknown contaminants and emerging threats not covered by current regulations. These instruments combine targeted quantification with retrospective data analysis capability.
Automation and Digitalization – Robotic sample preparation systems, automated SPE workstations, and integrated LC-MS data processing reduce manual labor, improve reproducibility, and accelerate sample throughput. Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) track samples from receipt through reporting, ensuring quality and regulatory compliance.
Miniaturization – Micro-SPE cartridges, automated QuEChERS systems, and micro-scale nitrogen evaporators reduce solvent consumption, decrease waste generation, and lower operating costs while maintaining analytical performance.
Expanding Analyte Scope – Emerging contaminants including PFAS, microplastics, nanoplastics, and plant toxins (pyrrolizidine alkaloids, tropane alkaloids) require new analytical methods and regulatory limits. Food testing laboratories must continuously adapt their capabilities.
Green Chemistry Principles – Reducing solvent usage, minimizing waste generation, and adopting environmentally friendly extraction techniques (supercritical fluid extraction, QuEChERS) align food testing with sustainability goals.
Conclusion: Protecting European Food Safety Through Analytical Excellence
EU Regulation 1881/2006 (now 2023/915) establishes a comprehensive framework for controlling food contaminants, protecting European consumers from mycotoxins, heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs, and numerous other hazardous substances. Achieving compliance demands sophisticated analytical workflows combining effective sample preparation with state-of-the-art instrumental analysis.
Nitrogen evaporation technology, exemplified by Organomation's N-EVAP systems, plays an indispensable role in these workflows—serving as the critical concentration step between extraction/cleanup and LC-MS/MS or GC-MS analysis. The technique's versatility, reliability, and cost-effectiveness have made it a fixture in food testing laboratories for over six decades.
As regulatory requirements evolve and analytical challenges grow more complex, laboratories equipped with optimized sample preparation capabilities, high-performance chromatography-mass spectrometry systems, and robust quality assurance programs will continue leading the way in protecting food safety across Europe and beyond.
For more information about nitrogen evaporators and sample preparation solutions for food contaminant testing, visit Organomation.com or contact their technical specialists for application-specific recommendations.