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During the last years, declines in honey bee colonies are being registered worldwide. Cholinergic pesticides and their extensive use have been correlated to the decline of pollinators and there is evidence that pesticides act as neuroendocrine disruptors affecting the metabolism of neuropeptides. However, there is a big absence of studies with quantitative results correlating the effect of pesticide exposure with changes on neuropeptides insects, and most of them are conducted under laboratory conditions, typically with individual active ingredients. In this study, we present an analytical workflow to evaluate pesticide effects on honey bees through the analysis of (neuro)peptides. The workflow consists of a rapid extraction method and liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole for preselected neuropeptides. For non-target analysis, high resolution mass spectrometry, multivariate analysis and automatic identification of discriminated peptides using a specific software and protein sequence databases. The analytical method was applied to the analysis of target and non-target (neuro)peptides in honey bees with low and high content of a wide range of pesticides to which have been exposed in field conditions. Our findings show that the identification frequency of target neuropeptides decreases significantly in honey bees with high concentration of pesticides (pesticide concentrations ≥ 500 μg kg −1 ) in comparison with the honey bees with low content of pesticides (pesticide concentrations ≤ 20 μg kg −1 ). Moreover, the principal component analysis in non-target search shows a clear distinction between peptide concentration in honey bees with high level of pesticides and honey bees with low level. The use of high resolution mass spectrometry has allowed the identification of 25 non-redundant peptides responsible for discrimination between the two groups, derived from 18 precursor proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we explore the processes involving food in contact with food contact materials (FCMs), and the subsequent changes in these materials. We delve into the historical context of "economic poisons", the development of food safety concerns, the regulation of food additives, and the rise of harmful chemicals in food. The focus is placed on mass spectrometry-based analyses of FCMs. We have examined substances, like bisphenols, and the chemical migration from various materials into food, highlighting the difficulty in identifying and managing these substances, especially unknown ones. This work further cements the inadequacy of current regulations in effectively controlling FCMs and mitigating associated risks. We conclude that despite the information provided by mass spectrometry, challenges persist in fully comprehending and regulating the interplay between FCMs and food under actual cooking conditions, emphasising the need for ongoing research and improved regulations to protect consumer health from these evolving chemical threats. • Historical context of food safety and "economic poisons". • Role of mass spectrometry in identifying chemicals in food contact materials. • Limitations of current regulations associated with food contact materials. • High-resolution mass spectrometry is a potent tool in food evaluations. • This technology has allowed to identify new substances of potential concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]