The expanding role of LC-MS in analyzing metabolites and degradation products of food contaminants

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has contributed significantly in advancing research in the analysis of metabolites and degradation products of food contaminants. Of particular interest is the comprehensive application of LC-MS to discovery of degradation products and metabolites. This review, covering research published between 2003 and 2008, describes how LC-MS has been used in this field, with the majority of work dealing with target-metabolite analysis and only a small fraction using LC-MS comprehensively.In considering the significance of this topic and the potential interest in it, we briefly describe state-of-the art mass analyzers applied for it (QtrAP, QqTOF, and Orbitrap). We detail the challenges and the achievements of LC-MS in this field of analysis, with emphasis on the latest developments in the technique. We also discuss how some of the key features of LC-MS are exploited to identify, to characterize and to determine some metabolites and degradation products of residues and food contaminants. Finally, we critically evaluate the prospects for, and the limitations of, LC-MS in this field, including identification of degradation products, quantitative methods and metabolite profiling.