Grain Safety Assurance

Testing for toxins

Grain safety assurance is a high priority with producers, processors, exporters, and customers. When toxic substances such as pesticide residues, mycotoxins or heavy metals are an issue, the Grain Safety Assurance group can provide expert advice and reliable and sensitive chemical analysis services. The Grain Research Laboratory is the leading Canadian authority on food safety issues affecting grain and chemical testing of grains for toxic substances.

Services and research

The Grain Safety Assurance group's analytical chemistry laboratories provide test results:

• To certify export shipments
• To confirm conformance with customer specifications
• For documentation, investigation or research

We can measure the following toxic substances in cereals, oilseeds and pulse crops:

• Pesticides (herbicides, fungicides or insecticides)
• Mycotoxins (the toxic byproducts of moulds) produced in the field or storage
• Trace elements, from aluminum to zinc

Our research efforts focus on development of analytical methods and study of toxic substances in grain.

Technology, methods and standards

We use state-of-the-art technology and analytical methodology including gas and liquid chromatography, mass and atomic absorption spectrometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and specific ion electrode analysis to provide sensitive, accurate and precise results. Some of our methods have been published in the Journal of AOAC International.

Future developments

We are world leaders in the development of analytical methods for the detection of toxic substances in grain-from single analyte determinations to multi-residue screens-in an international marketplace demanding increasingly stringent and complex standards for toxic substances and grain safety.

Experience and expertise

Our staff has been testing for pesticide residues since 1966, for mycotoxins since 1983 and trace elements since 1992. Our analytical chemists are recognized world leaders in analytical method development and testing of grains for contaminants and toxic substances.

To find out more about our staff, their research and area of expertise, read the biographies for:

Tom Nowicki, Section Head, Grain Safety Assurance

Eugene Gawalko, Program Manager, Trace Elements Unit, Grain Safety Assurance