Food News

Determination of thiourea compounds (PTU/ETU) and dithiocarbamates in baby food

Baby food

From now on we can offer the determination of propylene-thiourea (PTU), ethylene-thiourea (ETU) and Propineb residues in food and especially in infant formulae, follow-on formulae, cereal-based complementary foods and foods for infants and young children at AGROLAB LUFA GmbH in Kiel.

 

For the sum of Propineb and propylene thiourea (PTU), a maximum residue limit of 0,006 mg/kg (in accordance with Article 4(3) in conjunction with Annex IV of Regulation (EU) No 2016/127) is applicable, which is achieved by the newly offered methods.

 

The requirements of Regulation (EU) No. 2016/127 for residue testing in dietary foods for infants and young children can therefore be completely commissioned with AGROLAB LUFA.

 

Ethylene-thiourea (ETU) and PTU are two of the degradation products of the dithiocarbamate fungicides (DTC) which are used in fruit and vegetable cultivation. Both degradation products can be found on the surface of DTC-treated products. They have been identified in animal experiments as teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. This is an example of how the degradation products of an active ingredient can be more toxic than the starting compound. When defining residues, increasing attention is therefore being paid to the metabolites of the actives.

 

While dithiocarbamate pesticides are not determined individually but as a sum (degradation product CS2) due to their relative instability. PTU and ETU are degradation products for which a single method has been developed due to their toxicity.

 

AGROLAB LUFA is a specialist in the analysis of foodstuffs for special nutritional purposes

These methods are carried out in our department for residue analysis at AGROLAB LUFA GmbH. This department is designed for high throughput and short turnaround times.

 

AGROLAB LUFA is specialised in the analysis of food for special nutritional purposes. In addition to residue and contaminant analyses, we also carry out the determination of nutritional values, all vitamins, minerals and trace elements and, of course, we evaluate the products with regard to all regulatory requirements.

 

 

Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger