Suqin Shao, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Food Chemical Safety

Current research and/or projects

Dr. Shao’s research program contributes to “addressing threats to the agriculture and agri-food value chain, such as risks to food safety” in the S&T Branch business plan by focusing on the identification and reduction of hazardous chemicals in food. Her expertise and strength in the use of food chemistry knowledge to explore the formation pathway of toxins and hence, develop effective strategies to control chemical hazards in food by working with food processing experts and industry partners.

Research and/or project statements

Evaluating the use of the black soldier fly as an eco-friendly alternative to antibiotics in poultry production
Integrated research-development-technology-transfer approach to enhance productivity and sustainability of potato production in Canada
Preharvest UV-C treatments as an environmentally friendly approach for diseases control and improvement of postharvest quality of fresh horticultural crops

Professional activities / interests

Method development for detection of chemical food hazards
Development of mitigation measures for chemical food hazards
Effect of food processing on toxins

Education and awards

Ph.D. Biology, University of Western Ontario, 2006

M.Sc. Analytical Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, 2002

B.Sc. Analytical Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, China, 1998

Key publications

Liu R, Tse AT, Liu H, Neacsu D, Doma KM, Duncan AM, Shao S, Ramdath D, Lepp D. 2022. A Simple and Effective Method for Extraction and Measurement of Short Chain Fatty Acids in Human Serum by GC-FID, abstr 71st Canadian Society for Microbiology Annual conference, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, June 26 -29, 2022.
2022 - View publication details
Zhu, Y., Hassan, Y.I., Shao, S., Zhou, T. (2018). Employing immuno-affinity for the analysis of various microbial metabolites of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol. Journal of Chromatography A, [online] 1556 81-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2018.04.067
2018 - View publication details
Liu, H., Shao, S., Schellenberg, M. (2017). A simple and fast procedure to determine 3-nitropropanoic acid and 3-nitropropanol in freeze dried Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis). Toxins, [online] 9(7), http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxins9070204
2017 - View publication details
Shen, H.-S., Shao, S., Chen, J.-C. and Zhou, T. (2017), Antimicrobials from Mushrooms for Assuring Food Safety. COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND FOOD SAFETY, 16: 316–329. doi:10.1111/1541-4337.12255
2017 - View publication details
Guan, W., Zhang, J., Yan, R., Shao, S., Zhou, T., Lei, J., Wang, Z. (2016). Effects of UV-C treatment and cold storage on ergosterol and Vitamin D2 contents in different parts of white and brown mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Food Chemistry, [online] 210 129-134. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.04.023
2016 - View publication details
Khanal, N., Schellenberg, M. P. & Shao, S. (2016) Canadian Milkvetch: A Range Species of Concern and Curiosity, pp 281-282, In Alan Iwaasa, H.A. (Bart) Lardner, Mike Schellenberg, Walter Willms and Kathy Larson eds., The Future Management of Grazing and Wild Lands in a High-Tech World: Proceedings 10th International Rangeland Congress. 16-22 July 2016, Saskatoon, SK.
2016 - View publication details
Hu, G., Zhu, Y., Hernandez, M., Koutchma, T., Shao, S. (2016). An efficient method for the simultaneous determination of furan, 2-methylfuran and 2-pentylfuran in fruit juices by headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector, 192 9-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.06.100
2016 - View publication details
Shen, H.S., Liu, H., Chen, J.-C., Shao, S., Zhu, H., Tsao, R., and Zhou, T. (2015). "Tetramethylpyrazine from Pleurotus geesteranus.", Natural Product Communications, 10(9), pp. 1553-1554.
2015 - View publication details
Soliman, S., Li, X.Z., Shao, S., Behar, M., Svircev, A.M., Tsao, R., Zhou, T. (2015). Potential mycotoxin contamination risks of apple products associated with fungal flora of apple core, 47 585-591. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.07.060
2015 - View publication details
Zhu, Y., Koutchma, T., Warriner, K., Shao, S., Zhou, T. (2013). Kinetics of patulin degradation in model solution, apple cider and apple juice by ultraviolet radiation. Vadose Zone JournalWestern Producer, [online] 19(4), 291-303. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1082013212452414
2013 - View publication details
Hu, G., Hernandez, M., Zhu, H., Shao, S. (2013). An efficient method for the determination of furan derivatives in apple cider and wine by solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-Diode array detector. Journal of Chromatography A, [online] 1284 100-106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2013.02.002
2013 - View publication details
Hu, G., Hernandez, M., and Shao, S. (2012). "An efficient method for the determination of furan derivatives in apple cider and wine by solid phase extraction and HPLC/DAD.", Guelph Food Safety Seminar Series (GFSSS) 10th Annual Symposium, Guelph, ON, Canada, October 16, 2012.
2012 - View publication details
Hernandez, M., Hu, G., and Shao, S. (2012). "The effect of UV light treatment on the migration of bisphenol A (BPA) from food packaging materials to food matrices.", Guelph Food Safety Seminar Series (GFSSS) 10th Annual Symposium, Guelph, ON, Canada, October 16, 2012.
2012 - View publication details
Shao, S., Zhou, T., McGarvey, B.D. (2012). Comparative metabolomic analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the degradation of patulin using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, [online] 94(3), 789-797. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3739-8
2012 - View publication details
Shao, S., Duncan, A.M., Yang, R., Marcone, M.F., Rajcan, I., Tsao, R. (2011). Systematic evaluation of pre-HPLC sample processing methods on total and individual isoflavones in soybeans and soy products. Food Research International, [online] 44(8), 2425-2434. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2010.12.041
2011 - View publication details
Ranathunge, K., Shao, S., Qutob, D., Gijzen, M., Peterson, C.A., Bernards, M.A. (2010). Properties of the soybean seed coat cuticle change during development. Planta, [online] 231(5), 1171-1188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00425-010-1118-9
2010 - View publication details
Shao, S., Hernandez, M., Kramer, J.K.G., Rinker, D.L., Tsao, R. (2010). Ergosterol profiles, fatty acid composition, and antioxidant activities of button mushrooms as affected by tissue part and developmental stage., 58(22), 11616-11625. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf102285b
2010 - View publication details
Shao, S., Duncan, A.M., Yang, R., Marcone, M.F., Rajcan, I., Tsao, R. (2009). Tracking isoflavones: From soybean to soy flour, soy protein isolates to functional soy bread. Journal of Functional Foods, [online] 1(1), 119-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2008.09.013
2009 - View publication details
Shao, S., Tsao, R., Duncan, A.M., Marcone, M.F., and Rajcan, I. (2008). "Detection of isoflavones and degradation products in different plants, foods and human biological fluid samples.", 2008 Canadian Institute of Food Science & Technology (CIFST) and AAFC Conference, Delta Prince Edward Hotel, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada, May 25-27, 2008. (Poster)
2008 - View publication details
Tsao, R., Shao, S., Duncan, A.M., Marcone, M.F., and Rajcan, I. (2008). "Detection of isoflavones and degradation products in different plants, foods and human biological fluid samples.", 2008 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (ISNFF), Green Laurel Hotel, Taichung, Taiwan, November 14-17, 2008. (Abstract)
2008 - View publication details