Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technology is currently increasingly used in diagnostic laboratories as a cost effective, rapid and reliable routine technique for the identification and typing of microorganisms. In this study, we used MALDI-TOF MS to analyze a collection of 160 strains belonging to the Bacillus cereus group (57 B. anthracis, 49 B. cereus, 1 B. mycoides, 18 B. wiedmannii, 27 B. thuringiensis, 7 B. toyonensis and 1 B. weihenstephanensis) and to detect specific biomarkers which would allow an unequivocal identification. The Main Spectra Profiles (MSPs) were added to an in-house reference library, expanding the current commercial library which does not include B. toyonensis and B. wiedmannii mass spectra. The obtained mass spectra were statistically compared by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) that revealed seven different clusters. Moreover, for the identification purpose, were generated dedicate algorithms for a rapid and automatic detection of characteristic ion peaks after the mass spectra acquisition. The presence of specific biomarkers can be used to differentiate strains within the B. cereus group and to make a reliable identification of Bacillus anthracis, etiologic agent of anthrax, which is the most pathogenic and feared bacterium of the group. This could offer a critical time advantage for the diagnosis and for the clinical management of human anthrax even in case of bioterror attacks.

The evaluation of cereal-based product contamination by pesticide residues is a topic of worldwide importance, and reliable analytical methods for official check analyses and monitoring studies are required for multi-residue analysis at trace levels. In this work, a validated multi-residual analytical method by gas-chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry coupled with a rapid QuEChERS procedure was used for the determination of 37 pesticides (pyrethroids, organophosphorus and organochlorine compounds) in 209 commercially available samples of cereals and 11 legumes, placed on the Italian market in 2018 and 2019, coming from different regions of Italy, eastern Europe, and some non-European countries. No pesticide traces were observed in the analyzed legume samples. A total of 18 cereal samples were found to be contaminated by at least one pesticide, with a concentration level higher than the corresponding quantification limit, but never exceeding the maximum level fixed in the European Regulations. This work is the first part of a surveillance study for pesticide control in food samples.

In this study, a comprehensive assessment of pesticide residues in fruits, vegetables, and derived products collected between 2022 and 2025 within the Apulia and Basilicata regions (Southern Italy) is reported. The analytical workflow combined QuEChERS extraction with Gas Chromatography coupled to Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS) and Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Heated Electrospray Ionization-Quadrupole Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-HESI-Q-Orbitrap-MS). A total of 198 samples were analyzed, including fruits (51%), vegetables (35%), and processed products (14%). Approximately 60% of the samples originated from large-scale distribution networks (EU and non-EU imports), while 40% were derived from local production in Apulia and Basilicata. Validation parameters for both methods met the SANTE/11312/2021 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808 performance requirements. Results showed that 76.8% of samples were free of quantifiable pesticides, while 23.2% contained residues below EU maximum limits, confirming high compliance and effective regional agronomic management in Apulia and Basilicata. The estimated daily intake and chronic hazard index values were below 100%, across all population groups, confirming the absence of chronic dietary risk. The integration of GC-QqQ-MS/MS and UHPLC-HESI-Q-Orbitrap-MS platforms ensured comprehensive chemical coverage and high selectivity, providing an effective regional surveillance model aligned with EU “Farm to Fork” food safety purposes.