LAUSR

The food irradiation marker, 2-dodecylcyclobutanone (2-DCB), assayed by SPME provides a fast and simple method to estimate the irradiation history of fat-containing food products. The SPME conditions were optimized to maximize the extraction of 2-DCB from chicken jerky treats (CJT) irradiated at low (5 kGy) and high (50 kGy) doses. The extracted 2-DCB was measured using GC-MS in selected ion mode (m/z 98, and 112). Water dilution (1:5) was needed to mobilize 2-DCB and allow partition to the headspace form the CJT matrix. Increasing the incubation temperature to 80 °C resulted in higher response. Spiking control jerky samples with 2-DCB from 10 to 150 ng/g CJT compared with spiking water revealed a significant food matrix effect. This method provides a fast, simple, and environmental friendly alternative for the existing solvent extraction methods.