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301.924.7077
11
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
1:00PM – 1:30PM
Kaushik Banerjee,
National Referral Laboratory, Indian Council of Agricultural
Research-National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune, India
In this year’s Harvey W. Wiley Award Address, at the 131st AOAC Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, GA, Wiley
Award winner
Kaushik Banerjee
from the National Referral Laboratory, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National
Research Centre for Grapes, Pune, India, reflects on the technical advancements and challenges in developing an
agrochemical residue analysis system in India over the last 14 years. He stresses the importance of precise and accurate
analysis in establishing and sustaining food safety traceability systems in agricultural crops. The Harvey W. Wiley Award
is AOAC INTERNATIONAL’s top scientific honor, given annually for career accomplishments in the analytical sciences.
Banerjee will outline the workflow of agrochemical residue analysis that starts with optimized random sampling at
pre- and post-harvest levels, followed by sample extraction, cleanup, and final analysis by mass spectrometry (MS). In
addition, he will highlight the importance of high-quality analytical test results that govern optimization of each step in
residue analysis.
India’s pesticide residue control system was first established in 2004 for table grapes, with plot level traceability of
test samples beginning with release of a consignment into the market. In developing appropriate analytical methods,
Banerjee and his team initially focused on a multiclass, multiresidue analysis method for monitoring a list of about
50 agrochemicals, including chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphorus, and carbamate pesticides. Considering the
typical carbohydrate-rich and low-fat nature of Indian fruits and vegetables, the preferred solvent for extraction was
ethyl acetate. Efforts were taken to minimize solvent and reagent requirements, so that methods were cost-effective
and easy to adopt by Indian food testing laboratories. The optimized protocol was, therefore, rapid, precise, accurate,
economically viable, and had high throughput.
For the first time in India, tandem MS methods were implemented for residue testing on both GC and LC-MS systems. In
addition, a detailed analytical quality control procedure [per the European Commission Directorate-General Health and
Food Safety (DG SANTE) guidelines] was put into practice. The method was gradually expanded to cover a number of
compounds based on pesticide usage information in India and detection statistics in importing countries.
Prior to 2004, residue analysis in India was performed by gas chromatography- and high-performance liquid
chromatography-based methods, using relatively nonselective detectors (e.g., ECD and UV). The use of MS in
quantitative residue analysis was a new concept for Indian laboratories. Between 2004 and 2010, the infrastructure of
laboratories in India was highly variable. Another challenge was dealing with differences in competence levels across
the laboratories. Thus, efforts were focused on establishing validated methods to fit various technologies, including
single quad, ion trap, triple quad, and time-of-flight (TOF) MS. Strategies were implemented so that laboratories could
perform residue testing through their existing facilities, with desired accuracy in compliance with analytical quality
control criteria. Organizing fit-for-purpose capacity building programs was important for the residue analysis system.
Banerjee and his team received support from experts across the globe, including scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug
WILEY AWARD ADDRESS
Advances and Challenges in
Establishing Residue Analysis System in India