Focus on lecithin
Eurofins develops new solution for comprehensive pesticide analysis
Dec. 2025. The emulsifying properties of lecithin, its variable and complex composition and its accompanying substances pose an analytical challenge when analysing lecithins. Eurofins Dr. Specht Laboratorien GmbH, one of the pesticide competence centres within the Eurofins laboratory network for food and feed testing in Germany, has therefore developed a range of innovative analyses for the comprehensive investigation of pesticide residues in lecithin.
We provide you with an overview of the importance and origin of lecithin, as well as the associated analytical challenges, and solutions for residue analysis, taking regulatory requirements into account.
Lecithin as a versatile emulsifier with growing importance
Lecithin is an essential raw material in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and feed industries. Its special amphiphilic structure with a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic part enables the emulsification of fat and water. It is therefore crucial for producing stable products and is used as an emulsifier in many products such as chocolate, baked goods, instant products and dietary supplements. In the EU, lecithins are approved as food additive E322.
With the global market growth forecast at 9.1% by 2030, the demand for high-quality, residue-free lecithin is on the rise. This poses new challenges for analytics, particularly with regard to pesticide residues.
Occurrence and extraction of lecithin
Lecithin is a mixture of phospholipids that occurs naturally in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and algae. It is mainly extracted from soybeans, but also from sunflower seeds and rapeseed. In the past, extraction from egg yolk (egg lecithin) was also common.
Analytical requirements vs. regulatory requirements
The global agricultural industry uses hundreds of different pesticides, the residues of which can be detected in raw materials and processed products. The raw materials for lecithin are sourced both within and, above all, outside the EU.
The aim of the Eurofins Food & Feed Testing laboratories in Germany was therefore to develop a screening method that covers the widest possible range of relevant substances. In doing so, the applicable regulatory requirements, that must be complied with by manufacturers and producers, must be taken into account. For baby food products in particular, the lowest possible detection limits must be established in order to meet the strict requirements, which in some cases extend to a detection limit of 0.003 mg/kg.
One analytical challenge is the characteristic emulsifying tendency of lecithin, which is particularly valued and desired by the industry. However, this property complicates phase separation during pesticide extraction. This phase separation is of central importance and influences the efficiency of matrix removal and the quality of the analyte extract. In turn, this has a decisive influence on the identification and quantification of the target analytes.
Furthermore, disruptive accompanying substances, high fat content, and the variable composition of lecithins, among other things, pose additional challenges for analysis.
We offer tailored analytical solutions
To support you meet the high demands of modern quality standards, we have developed a bespoke analysis for lecithin. Our state-of-the-art LC/GC-MS/MS technologies, combined with optimised extraction and purification processes, allow us to reliably analyse even complex matrices.
This enables us to overcome analytical challenges and ensure that strict regulatory requirements are met, especially in the sensitive area of baby food products.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the analysis of lecithin or our comprehensive range of pesticide analyses, please contact your personal account manager or get in touch with our experts in pesticide analysis directly.
