title: A novel method for the simultaneous determination of 14 sweeteners of regulatory interest using UHPLC-MS/MS.
abstract: An improved, efficient, sensitive method for the determination of 14 non-nutritive sweeteners in food products was developed using electrospray ionisation (ESI) ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in the negative-ion mode. Fourteen sweeteners and three internal standards were separated on a reversed-phase UHPLC column using a simple gradient programme. Analyte quantitation and confirmation were performed with data collection in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Limits of detection (LODs) were determined in a representative drink, candy and yogurt sample and ranged from 0.1 to 1.8 ng ml(-1) (drinks) and from 0.1 to 2.5 ng g(-1) (candy and yogurt). Repeatability at the limit of quantitation (LOQ) ranged from 1% to 13% relative standard deviation (RSD). Twenty-seven commercially available food products were tested using the optimised method showing that the majority of products contained sweetener concentrations below their assigned maximum usable dose. Recovery studies were performed and accuracy data are presented.
authors.affiliation: a Food and Drug Administration , Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition , College Park , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.forename: Lowri S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: De Jager
authors.forename: Timothy H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Begley
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005504:Food Analysis; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D013549:Sweetening Agents
keywords: UHPLC-MS/MS; challenging target analytes; foods; non-nutritive sweeteners