Residue &
Contaminant
Analysis
The presence of chemical residues and contaminants in food and feed poses risks to consumer health and represents a major challenge for regulatory compliance.
Tentamus Agriparadigma performs multi-residue and targeted analyses to detect pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals, dioxins, and PCBs, delivering reliable and officially recognized results.
Using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques (LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, HRGC/HRMS), our laboratory can detect even trace levels of undesirable substances, supporting food companies, feed producers, distributors, and supply chain operators in risk management and product safety.
Service Overview
Residues and Contaminants Tested
Our analyses monitor the main food residues and contaminants, including:
- Pesticides and plant protection products
- Mycotoxins
- Heavy metals
- Dioxins (PCDD/PCDF) and dioxin-like PCBs
Instrumentation
To guarantee precise results, we use state-of-the-art analytical techniques:
- LC-MS/MS & GC-MS/MS: liquid and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, ideal for pesticides and mycotoxins
- ICP-MS: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, for ultra-trace detection of heavy metals
- HRGC/HRMS: high-resolution gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, the reference standard for dioxins and PCBs
Applications
Residue and contaminant analysis is essential across multiple sectors:
- Regulatory compliance: Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (pesticides) and Regulation (EU) 2023/915 (contaminants)
- Retail quality controls (GDO): testing required by large-scale distribution to ensure market safety
- International export: compliance with extra-EU market requirements (FDA, CFIA, Codex Alimentarius)
- Organic products: screening to ensure absence of pesticides, essential for maintaining organic certification
- Supplements & baby food: highly sensitive sectors with stricter legal limits
Sampling Process
Sampling is a crucial step to obtain reliable results in residue and contaminant analysis. A non-representative or poorly managed sample can compromise the entire analytical process.
Tentamus Agriparadigma ensures sampling compliant with regulations and official standards.
Samples can be:
- Collected by our qualified staff at production sites, warehouses, or points of sale
- Provided by clients, following detailed instructions on collection, packaging, and storage
Additional Analyses
& Services
Our laboratories can also support you with individual consulting and tailored analytical plans, ensuring a comprehensive and customized service for your specific needs.
Thanks to the synergy between the Tentamus Group laboratories and our close collaboration with consulting companies within the network, we offer integrated analytical plans and customized solutions tailored to your quality control, certification, export, and regulatory compliance needs.