During the eight stage of the Project No.1.1.1.1.1 / 16 / A / 258, studies were continued on the spread of chemical contaminants in animal products, using previously developed analytical mass spectrometry methods. Residues of veterinary medicines are one of the most important groups of substances that affect human health, therefore their control is determined both at national and international level. 119 meat samples (beef, veal, pig and poultry) were analyzed using the aminoglycoside detection method. From the 119 samples tested, aminoglycoside residues were detected in 7 samples, in two of these samples the residue amount of dihydostreptimycin exceeded the maximum levels established in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010. 37/2010.

In order to further approbate and apply the developed methods in practical laboratory work, the determination of pharmacologically active substances using a high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry system was used for the proficiency testing of multi-screening methods, organized by the European Reference Laboratory (Berlin, Germany). 25 substances from different groups were detected in the analyzed samples: antihelmintics, nitroimidazoles, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulphanilamide preparations, macrolide and fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

In the study of biological contaminants, work on the creation of a database of pathogenic bacteria of food origin was continued by adding bacterial genome characteristics. Six hundred ninety foodborne pathogenic bacteria have been isolated from food and identified with MALDI-TOF MS till the end of this project period.

To ensure the transfer of knowledge and public information about the results of the project in relation to biological and chemical contaminants, the data were collected and analyzed to present its at the 77th International Scientific Conference of the Latvian University on Detection of Salmonella in foods and the prevalence of Shiga toxins produced E. coli in food products from Latvia, as well as the determination of pharmacologically active substances using a high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry system.

The total project costs: EUR 448 530,90 (the planned ERDF aid (85%): EUR 381 251,26 and state budget aid (7, 5%): EUR 33 639,82). Implementation of the project is scheduled at the duration of thirty months (period: 01.03.2017. – 30.08. 2019).

Information prepared on 26.03.2019.