Scientists have streamlined a method to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), cancer-causing chemicals found in common foods, potentially improving food safety testing. This new approach, known as QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe), significantly reduces the time and labor involved in identifying these contaminants.
A 2025 study from Seoul National University of Science and Technology, led by Professor Joon-Goo Lee, utilized QuEChERS to measure eight specific PAHs in various food items. The research, published in the journalFood Science and Biotechnology, found the highest PAH levels in soybean oil, followed by duck meat and canola oil among tested samples. The method demonstrated strong performance across multiple food matrices, with high linearity, low detection limits, and robust recovery rates.
Refining Detection Methods
Conventional PAH extraction methods often require extensive preparation, significant manual labor, and chemical-intensive procedures. The QuEChERS approach, however, accelerates sample preparation, cuts chemical use, and boosts recovery rates, making routine safety checks more practical. Professor Lee noted the method's efficiency and applicability across a wide range of food matrices.
PAHs can form when food is exposed to high temperatures or smoke, such as during grilling, roasting, or frying. The National Cancer Institute indicates these compounds can develop when fats and juices drip onto hot surfaces, creating smoke that deposits PAHs onto food. While animal studies have linked PAHs to cancer, human population studies have not definitively established a connection between exposure from cooked meats and cancer, underscoring the need for more accurate measurement tools.
Broader Applications and Continued Research
Since the SeoulTech study, other researchers have continued to refine QuEChERS-based methods for PAH detection. A separate 2025 study inFoods applied a modified QuEChERS method to 302 retail food samples, finding high concentrations of priority PAHs in smoked and dried fish products, and identifying grilled chicken feet as a potential health concern. Another 2025 study focused on cereals and cereal-based products, developing a modified QuEChERS method for PAH analysis in Romanian market samples. These findings indicate the increasing utility of QuEChERS-based approaches across diverse food categories, from oils and meats to smoked products and cereals, emphasizing the importance of food-specific testing.
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