title: Identifying potential sources of Sudan I contamination in Capsicum fruits over its growth period.
abstract: Sudan dyes in spices are often assumed to arise from cross-contamination or malicious addition. Here, experiments were carried out to identify the potential source of Sudan I-IV in Capsicum fruits through investigation of their contents in native Capsicum tissues, soils and associated agronomic materials. Sudan II-IV was not detected in any of the tested samples. Sudan I was found in almost all samples except for the mulching film. Sudan I concentrations decreased from stems to leaves and then to fruits or roots. Sudan I levels in soils were significantly elevated by vegetation treatment. These results exclude the possibility of soil as the main source for Sudan I contamination in Capsicum fruits. Further study found out pesticide and fertilizer constitutes the major source of Sudan I contamination. This work represents a preliminary step for a detailed Sudan I assessment to support Capsicum management and protection in the studied region.
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, Hebei, PR China.
authors.forename: Naiying
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Hebei Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Pigments, Handan 057250, Hebei, PR China. Electronic address: gaowei2003425@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Chenguang Biotech Group Limited Corporation, Handan 057250, Hebei, PR China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Hebei Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Pigments, Handan 057250, Hebei, PR China.
authors.forename: Yunhe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: Chenguang Biotech Group Limited Corporation, Handan 057250, Hebei, PR China.
authors.forename: Fengfei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Hebei Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Pigments, Handan 057250, Hebei, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D002212:Capsicum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D009284:Naphthols / Q000032:analysis*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009284:Naphthols; D012987:Soil; C024336:1-phenylazo-2-naphthol
keywords: Agronomic materials; GPC; Source; Sudan I; UPLC–MS/MS