Detection of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in commercial honey using liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry

► Method validated for 11 PA standards using ion trap MS. ► Application of a spectral library for fast and accurate identification of PAs. ► 50 commercial honey samples tested in duplicate. ► 16% positive for one or more PAs, concentrations ranging from 182 to 4078 μg kg-1. ► Results indicate the need to establish standardised validation criteria for PAs.