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Jun 11, 2026 | Blogs, Food / Beverage | 0 comments
Read time: 4 Minutes
Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to protect crops and maintain yield, but their presence in food must be carefully monitored. To safeguard consumers, regulatory authorities worldwide set maximum residue limits (MRLs), often at very low concentrations and across a wide range of compound classes.
For food testing laboratories, pesticide residue analysis is therefore one of the most demanding routine workflows. Labs are expected to deliver reliable, reproducible results across diverse food matrices, while maintaining throughput and keeping pace with evolving regulatory expectations.
Why pesticide analysis remains challenging
Modern pesticide testing rarely focuses on a single compound. Instead, laboratories must routinely screen and quantify large, multi‑residue panels that include compounds with very different chemical properties.
Common analytical challenges include:
Successfully addressing these challenges requires analytical workflows that combine sensitivity, selectivity and robustness, while remaining practical for routine compliance testing.
Technical note highlights
Precise testing of pesticides in food using the SCIEX Triple Quad™ 7500 LC-MS MS System – QTRAP Ready Read now >
Simultaneous LC-MS/MS quantitation of 180 pesticides in tea Read now >
Improving confidence in pesticides identification in food using QTRAP technology Read now >
Supporting reliable multi‑residue workflows
LC‑MS/MS has become the technique of choice for pesticide residue analysis in food due to its ability to deliver high sensitivity and selectivity across broad analyte panels. For routine testing environments, systems that support fast polarity switching, stable performance, and consistent data quality allow laboratories to consolidate more compounds into fewer runs.
Equally important is data handling. Integrated software platforms that bring acquisition, processing and reporting together can help laboratories manage high sample volumes while maintaining confidence in results and simplifying day‑to‑day operation.
Polar pesticides: A distinct analytical challenge
Within the broader pesticide landscape, polar pesticides, such as glyphosate, glufosinate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), present additional difficulties. Their poor retention on conventional reversed‑phase LC columns and susceptibility to matrix interferences make them particularly challenging to analyze.
A recent technical note demonstrates how a dedicated workflow for polar pesticides can address these challenges: Quantitation of polar pesticides in foods of plant origin
The study describes a combined sample preparation and LC‑MS/MS approach for the analysis of polar pesticides in tomatoes, oranges and oats. Key elements of the workflow include:
The results show reproducible chromatography, reliable quantitation and performance at low µg/kg levels across multiple plant‑based matrices, supporting confident compliance testing for this difficult compound class.
Enabling confidence in routine compliance testing
As regulatory expectations continue to evolve and analyte lists grow, food testing laboratories need approaches that are both technically robust and operationally sustainable. Well‑designed LC‑MS/MS workflows, supported by clear, application‑focused guidance can help labs maintain confidence in their results while meeting productivity demands.
By combining sensitive instrumentation, streamlined data handling and practical technical references, laboratories are better equipped to adapt to changing requirements and deliver reliable pesticide residue data in support of food safety.
The SCIEX solution
SCIEX 7500+ system
Sensitivity for routine pesticide quantitation The SCIEX 7500+ system supports trace‑level pesticide analysis with the sensitivity and robustness needed for large multi‑residue panels and complex food matrices, including challenging polar compounds.
Discover the technology >
SCIEX OS software
Simplifying pesticide data workflows An integrated software environment helps laboratories move efficiently from data acquisition to reporting, supporting consistent review, automated calculations and confident results across multi‑residue pesticide methods.
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Service and support
Supporting reliable routine testing Expert service and application support help laboratories maintain performance, maximise uptime and keep pesticide workflows running smoothly in high‑throughput, regulated environments.
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Regulated laboratories are evolving faster than ever. New analytical modalities, higher sample throughput, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and leaner teams are reshaping how work gets done. At the same time, expectations for data integrity, standardization, and operational efficiency continue to increase complexity and/or scope. In this environment, LC-MS software is no longer simply an instrument control platform—it has become a critical part of a laboratory’s quality management system. The question is no longer whether your lab has changed, but whether your software has evolved to support the way regulated labs operate today, and if they are ready and able to meet the demands, they will face tomorrow.
Analyst software has long been a trusted foundation in regulated LC-MS laboratories—and for many, it still performs reliably today. But regulated environments are evolving faster than ever. As labs transition to Windows 11, strengthen cybersecurity policies, modernize IT infrastructure, and prepare for future compliance expectations, software decisions are no longer just about what works today—they’re about managing tomorrow’s risk. Analyst will not be supported on Windows 11. While some labs may continue operating in unsupported environments temporarily, the bigger question is: when that risk becomes reality, will your lab be reacting under pressure—or executing a planned mitigation strategy with confidence?
As regulatory scrutiny increases and detection requirements tighten, laboratories are facing a new question: How can TFA be measured reliably, sensitively, and at scale?
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