A Multi-Residue Method for the Determination of 77 Pesticides in Red Ginseng Using QuEChERS and Gas Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)

A simple, sensitive, and rapid multi-residue analytical method was developed based on gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) and used to determine 77 multiclass pesticides in red ginseng. Samples were extracted and purified via a modified QuEChERS method. The calibration curves were in the range of 5 to 200 ng mL−1. The limits of detection (LODs) of the method were from 0.08 to 4.0 μg kg−1 and limits of quantification (LOQs) were in the range of 0.2–12.0 μg kg−1. The average recoveries of the method ranged from 61% to 133.9% at two spiked levels of 20 and 100 μg kg−1 in red ginseng samples, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.2% to 14.9%.