Determination of trichothecenes and zearalenone in wheat and derived products by LC-MS/MS: development of a standard method within the CEN mandate M/520

Results obtained within a project under theEuropean Commission standardization mandate M520/EN (item 4) are herein presented. Aim of the project was to develop and validate an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of nivalenol, deoxynivalenol and its acetyl derivatives, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, and zearalenone in cereals and cereal products by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry. The standardized method shall be applied to perform official control of the above food products, and to determine whether a production batch can be put on the market.