Quaternary ammonium compounds

In the past, increasing amounts of quaternary ammonium compound (QACs) residues have been detected in and on food. The main types are benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC). Due to their surface-active properties, QAV are used as cationic surfactants in products such as fabric conditioners or as antistatic agents (e. g. in shampoo). They also belong to the group of biocides, since they have a disinfectant effect. This is why they are used in hospitals, in food processing and in agriculture. In most cases QAV also form the main active ingredient in anti-algae agents (algaecides) used in public baths and swimming pools. In the European Union DDAC is approved as active ingredient in pesticide formulations.

Legal regulations

EU regulation No. 396/2005 does not specify any maximum residue levels for BAC or DDAC. Hence, the general limit value of 0.01 mg/kg is applied. In Germany, however, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health published a threshold value of 0.5 mg/kg in a guideline on DDAC On July 13th 2012. This value is a preliminary residue level that is valid until a specific maximum level has been specified for the products listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) No. 396/2005. Since July 26th 2012, the same threshold value has also been valid for benzalkonim chloride. If BAC and DDAC occur simultaneously, the safety value applies to each group separately. For processed products and compound products a respective processing factor must be applied.

Analytics

ifp Institut für Produktqualität performs QAV detection by means of LC-MS/MS.

Pesticide Analysis: Multiscreening and Single Compounds

The analysis of pesticide residues aims to detect as many different pesticides as possible in one sample and in one cycle. Therefore ifp Institut für Produktqualität uses state-of-the-art multimethods for the complex task of determining pesticides.

Multiscreening

The complete list of pesticides examined at ifp comprises 650 compounds and metabolites, including acidic and acid sensitive pesticides, and can be provided on request. The multiscreening in food and drinking water samples is performed using the QuEChERS (Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe) method and LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS.

Additional Analyses

Beyond the multiscreening we offer a broad range of additional analyses, such as:

  • bromide, anorganic (GC-ECD)
  • chlorate/perchlorate1
  • chlormequat/mepiquat1
  • diquat/paraquat1
  • dithiocarbamates (CS2)
  • ethephon1
  • ethylene oxide (ETO)2
  • fentin (triphenyltin)
  • fosetyl/phosphonic acid1
  • glyphosate1
  • nicotine
  • propineb/propylene thiourea (PTU)
  • quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC)

1 Quantification of polar compounds is performed using the QuPPe (Quick Polar Pesticides) method and LC-MS/MS.

 2 The method of analysis is HS-GC-MS.

Residues in Food and Feed

ifp Institut für Produktqualität has set up a competence centre for the analysis of pesticide residues in Berlin-Adlershof. The centre analyses a comprehensive range of pesticides using state-of-the-art methods and technologies. For more information on pesticide analysis, please see the following pages:

What is the definition of residues?

Residues are residual amounts of substances that are intentionally used in the agricultural production of food and in the food processing industry.  They include pesticides and veterinary medicines. Residues may permeate from the soil or water into food of plant origin or find their way into animal source foods through animal feed.

So residues are by definition different from contaminants. Contaminants are undesirable substances that were not intentionally added to food. Contaminants may be present in food at the point of harvest, production, processing, preparation, treatment, presentation, packaging or storage or as a result of environmental pollution.

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Pesticides

Plant protective agents, also referred to as pesticides, are intended to protect plants or living parts of plants and plant produce against animals, other plants or pests. These agents are categorised into fungicides (fungi), herbicides (weeds), insecticides (insects), molluscicides (snails, etc.), rodenticides (rats and other rodents) according to their mode type of action.

In addition, co-formulants, such as safeners and synergists are used, which affect the impact of the plant protection product. Safeners serve to eliminate or reduce the phytotoxic effect of the preparation on certain plants. Synergists as such have no or only a minor impact on harmful organisms; however, they can reinforce the impact of a plant protection product.

Risk assessment and approval of pesticides

Yet the impact of pesticides is do not necessarily limited to have just beneficial effects on plant cultivation. Their use may also bear risks for humans, animals and the environment, which. This is why they are subject to approval before they can be marketed. At EU level, approval of the active components is granted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and at national level approval is granted by the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). Approval of a new active ingredient always entails comes with thea definition of its maximum residue level (MRL).

Statutory regulations and maximum residue levels

Since 1 September 2008 standardised maximum residue levels for pesticides have been valid throughout the European Community. They were stipulated in Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin. The range of pesticides approved within the EU comprises several hundred agents. Along with these there are non-approved agents, for which maximum levels of 0.01 mg/kg have been defined.

On a national level, the Ordinance on maximum residue levels (RHmV) also regulates co-formulants of plant protection product such as safeners (e.g. cloquintocet-mexyl) and synergists (e.g. piperonyl butoxide).