Development of a method for melamine determination in beer and beer-type beverages by GC-MS/MS

Based on the European regulation, the Czech Association of Breweries and Malthouses recommends 2.5 mg/kg as maximum permitted concentration of melamine for beer, barley, malt, hop, and their products. For this reason, the first analytical method for melamine determination in beer and beer-type beverages was developed. The sample preparation included ion-exchange solid-phase extraction and subsequent derivatization with BSTFA. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Validation parameters of the method, such as limits of detection and quantification were 0.1 mg/L and 0.4 mg/L, respectively. Extended uncertainty of the final method was evaluated to 0.1 mg/L. The method was applied on twenty samples of beer lagers, or other beer styles; all had the level of melamine under the limit of quantification (< 0.4 mg/L).