Determination of dicyandiamide in infant formula by stable isotope dilution hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Dicyandiamide is a compound for reducing the negative effects of greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching into waterways. In this study, the trace contamination of dicyandiamide in infant formula was analysed by stable isotope dilution hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS). Dicyandiamide and a stable isotope internal standard were monitored by multiple reaction-monitoring with mass transitions: m/z 85 → 68/43 and m/z 89 → 71/45 in the electrospray positive ion mode. For sample preparation of the infant formula, a diluted/filtered procedure was developed for this assay. The calculated LOD and LOQ values were 0.01 or 0.05 ng/mL for the standard solution, respectively. The averaged recovery and precision were 110.8% and 7.4%, respectively. This assay was applied to monitor 23 infant formulas, and the dicyandiamide contamination in one sample was detected and quantified at 79.1 ± 1.2 ng/g (ppb) powder. We suggest that it is necessary to cautiously monitor the DCD in common products from international countries.