Comprehensive monitoring of 222 pesticide residues in Iranian roasted coffee beans using GC-MS/MS†

In this study, a modified “Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe” (QuEChERS) sample preparation method, utilizing gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), was employed for the simultaneous analysis of 222 pesticides in roasted coffee beans. The range and linearity of calibration curves, as well as the accuracy and intermediate precision, were assessed using spiked samples. Additionally, the Limits of Detection (LOD) and Quantitation (LOQ) were evaluated. The method has been linear in the 0.01–0.1 mg kg⁻¹ range. For most analytes, the mean recovery and Relative Standard Deviation (% RSD) were within the 70–120% range and under 20%, respectively. The mean recovery for all pesticides was 100.92 ± 10.69% at 0.015 mg kg⁻¹, 107.61 ± 7.77% at 0.03 mg kg⁻¹, and 96.63 ± 9.07% at 0.06 mg kg⁻¹. Method validation demonstrated quantification capabilities for 222 analytes, with LOQs of 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ for 194 pesticides (87.4%), 0.015 mg kg⁻¹ for 26 compounds (11.7%), and 0.02 mg kg⁻¹ for the remaining 2 analytes (0.9%). Upon comparing the results with the requirements of SANTE/11312, it is evident that the method meets the necessary criteria to ensure the quality control of real samples. Out of 16 tested real coffee bean samples, three Arabica coffee bean samples contained residues of Flutriafol below the LOQ.