Interlaboratory trial of a mass spectrometry method for meat species determination
Abstract:
This report describes an inter-laboratory trial of a qualitative liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for meat speciation, originally developed under Defra project FA01661. The method, previously validated intra-laboratory with two laboratories, demonstrated robust and accurate detection of highly processed meat products, which are analytically challenging. Using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry, the method simultaneously and specifically detects nine meat species: cow, pig, horse, donkey, sheep, goat, chicken, turkey, and rabbit. The inter-laboratory trial aimed to assess method performance across multiple laboratories, identify sources of variability, and evaluate efficiency improvements in sample preparation. Public analyst laboratories were invited to participate, with two laboratories completing the study. The trial also investigated the method’s limit of detection (LOD) for potential adulterating species. The study confirms that this LC-MS/MS approach provides a reliable, reproducible tool for meat species verification in processed foods, supporting UK public analysts in enforcing food authenticity standards.
