Determination of Taurine in Infant Formula and Adult/Pediatric Nutritionals by Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Mass Spectrometry: Single-Laboratory Validation, First Action 2022.08.

This article focuses on the development and single-laboratory validation (SLV) of a rapid ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MRM-MS) method for determining taurine content in infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritionals. Taurine, an essential β-amino acid important for newborn development, is quantified after acid deproteinization using hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) and a stable isotope-labeled internal standard. The method demonstrated accuracy (92–105% recovery), repeatability (relative standard deviation [RSD] 0.7–4.6%), intermediate precision (RSD 1.3–6.7%), and a limit of quantitation (LOQ) below 0.5 mg/100 g, meeting AOAC INTERNATIONAL Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR) 2014.013. The validated method was approved by the AOAC Stakeholder Program on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN) Expert Review Panel for First Action Official Method status and is suitable for routine compliance testing of taurine in relevant nutritional products.