5th RTD Framework Programme
Development of a test kit for the automated determination of pesticides in foodstuffs
In order to take into consideration the consumer’s growing concern in the area of food safety, the objective of this project is therefore to develop a fast test kit with the aid of which certain pesticides already present in the production process can be identified. This is very important due to the varying quality from different suppliers and the sometimes poor declaration of the raw materials in the food-processing industry. This test kit can be used by the food industry as a powerful tool for its own quality control efforts as well as by the food manufacturer or seller who would be able to test the toxic potential of food quickly and reliably. Better control of pesticides will allow producers greater competitiveness and profitability.
The test kit proposed in this project will provide the SME food-processing industry, which itself often has no information about the pesticide contamination of the cereals and fruits it has bought in from third parties, with an efficient quality control instrument. The herbicide trifluralin is foreseen as the first target. Trifluralin, CAS number 1582098 (synonyms are Agriflan 24, Agreflan, Crisalin, Digerman, Elancolan, Lilly 36352, Nitran, Olitref, Trefanocide, Treficon, Treflan, Trifluoralin, Triflurex, Trikepin, or Trim) is a member of the dinitroaniline herbicides which inhibit cell and nuclear division. There are some animal studies in which trifluralin was carcinogenic. Trifluralin is considered by the EPA to be a "possible human carcinogen". Trifluralin is a likely source of contamination in food products imported from southern (developing) countries since the pesticide is widely used in the agricultural production of carrots, soybeans, barley, wheat, cotton. Trifluralin is absorbed through the soil and does not penetrate very far. It is non-toxic to foliage, therefore it is often sprayed. It breaks down in the soil very slowly (> 6 months).
The objective of the project is to develop a quick, simple, reliable and automated test kit for the specific detection of trifluralin on the basis of a cost-efficient immuno-sensor based on the optical grating-coupler waveguide principle (OWLS, optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy). Method development will follow, investigating suitable antibodies provided by the project partners and immobilisation techniques before narrowing down to those methods believed to have the most potential for meeting the project objectives and setting up an assay protocol.
The new and highly specific immuno-sensor tests will help agricultural producers and food manufacturers to detect harmful residual pesticide levels on-site and much more rapidly. A successful outcome of the project will represent a major advance in the detection of trifluralin and make a significant contribution to food safety.