Quantitative Determination of Six Nitrofuran Parent Drugs in Shrimp Muscle Using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry According to European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808

Abstract

A method validated in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808 was developed for the detection of six nitrofuran parent compounds, including furazolidone, furaltadone, nitrofurazone, nitrofurantoin, nifursol, and nitrovin in shrimp muscle to meet the food safety requirements of importing countries, particularly those of the European Union and the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Samples were extracted using ethyl acetate, and the extracts were dried under a nitrogen stream. The dried extract was reconstituted with 1 mL of n-hexane and 1 mL of methanol/0.1% formic acid in water (90:10, v/v) and then defatted with n-hexane. Analysis was performed using UPLC-MS/MS. This method achieved limits of quantification below 0.5 µg kg^-1 for all nitrofuran parent compounds. The decision limit (CCα) ranged from 0.52 to 0.54 µg kg^-1 for all six compounds, and within-laboratory reproducibility was below 12%. Linear calibration curves for fortified shrimp muscle ranged from 0.5 to 5 µg kg^-1, with R² values between 0.995 and 0.998 for all six compounds.