Simultaneous determination of 13 pesticide residues in vinegar using UHPLC-MS/MS

Vinegar, a widely used processed agricultural product and common dietary condiment, raises concerns regarding pesticide residues due to potential contamination from its raw materials. This study developed a modified QuEChERS sample preparation method combined with UHPLC-MS/MS for the simultaneous quantification of 13 target pesticide residues in vinegar. Method validation showed satisfactory accuracy and precision, with mean recoveries ranging from 70% to 104% and relative standard deviation (RSD) between 1.2% and 16.0% across three spiked levels (0.002, 0.02, and 0.2 mg/kg). The method demonstrated a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.002 mg/kg, with limit of detection (LOD) between 5.2 × 10−5 and 8.6 × 10−4 mg/kg, indicating high sensitivity. This study applied the analytical method to vinegar samples sourced from Shanxi Province, China. Pesticide residues at concentrations above the LOQ were detected in 46.2% of the analysed samples. However, the total residue concentrations were consistently low, with all measurements below 0.0220 mg/kg. This study developed a novel, efficient, and reliable method for monitoring multi-pesticide residues in vinegar, thereby enhancing food safety oversight.