Analysis of sprout suppressants in potatoes

Fera’s food safety experts can identify (screen), and also quantify, residues within your food sample using state of the art GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS equipment.  This data can be vital to ensure your products are fit for purpose, provide strong evidence to regulators and consumers that your food products are safe, and demonstrate that any residues present are below regulatory limits, or Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs).

Our triple quadrupole mass spectrometry-based methods are highly efficient, and within this multi-residue screens, we test for over 450 pesticides within wide range of food and beverages. 

The potato industry is expected to make significant changes in the way potatoes are stored after loss of approval for chlorpropham (CIPC).  This may include the use of other chemicals like maleic hydrazide and 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene.

chlorpropham  (LOD = 0.01mg/kg)

Chlorpropham is a residual herbicide and potato sprout suppressant that no longer has EU approval for use. It is moderately soluble in water, highly volatile and moderately mobile. It is not persistent in soil but may be persistent in water systems and remain in building fabric for a substantial period of time. Chlorpropham has a low mammalian toxicity, but it may bioaccumulate.

maleic hydrazide  (LOD = 1.0 mg/kg)

Fera’s food experts are able to analyse for maleic hydrazide within your food sample(s). Maleic hydrazide is a plant growth regulator, used to suppress growth and to induce dormancy in some crops. It is mostly used to reduce sprouting in stored crops, such as potatoes, onions, shallots and garlic.

Maleic hydrazide is regulated in crops to ensure correct use and to minimise consumer exposure. This results in strict maximum residue levels (MRLs) outlined by regulatory bodies to ensure traces of these pesticides do not reach harmful levels, either for humans or the ecosystem.

1,4-dimethylnaphthalene  (LOD = 0.01mg/kg)

1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene (1,4-DMN) is a plant growth regulator belonging to the chemical family of alkyl substituted naphthalenes. 1,4-DMN, as other di-methylnaphthalenes or methylated naphthalenes, are naturally occurring components, endogenous to many plants, including potatoes. In potatoes 1,4-DMN acts a plant growth regulator, specifically inhibiting sprouting and potentially enhancing dormancy.

It is important for the food industry in general, and potato industry in particular to ensure absence of chlorpropham.  This issue is made more difficult as chlorpropham can stay in stores where previous legitimate exposure has occurred for long periods, leading to detectable residues in subsequent years. In addition, it is important to test for maleic hydrazide and 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene residues to ensure compliance with current MRLs.

Residues are controlled through a system of statutory Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) which are the maximum safe amounts of residue likely to remain in food products when a pesticide has been used correctly by growers adhering to good agricultural practice (GAP).  Maintaining residue levels below the MRL assures regulators and consumers that these pesticides have been correctly used and in turn ensures that residues are within the regulatory limits, minimising consumer exposure. 

Our standard turnaround which is 10 working days, but other faster services are available - please get in touch for further details. We require only a 100g sample of your foodstuffs to ensure accurate results, but a larger sample (typically 1kg) may be required to comply with some EU and Codex regulations.