[Alternaria toxins in tomato products marketed in the Russian Federation].

Tomatoes and tomato products are widely produced and consumed throughout the world. Alternaria spp. are the main cause of alternariosis (black mold disease) on fresh tomatoes, both in the field and after harvesting. Alternaria toxins are widespread contaminants of tomato products. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contamination of tomato processing products from the domestic market with Alternaria toxins, as well as to assess their intake by humans through the consumption of tomato juices. Material and methods. The content of Alternaria toxins (alternatiol, alternariol monomethyl ether, altenuene, tentoxin, tenuazonic acid) was determined in 64 samples of tomato products (paste, ketchup, juice) by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass-spectrometric detection (HPLC-MS/MS). Results. The priority Alternaria toxins for tomato paste, ketchup and juice were tenuazonic acid (61% of 64 samples, in amounts from 20.0 to 1065.5 µg/kg), altenuene (52%, 8.9-200.1 µg/kg) and alternariol (27%, 12.2-561.6 µg/kg). Samples of tomato paste turned out to be the most contaminated with Alternaria toxins while tomato juice samples were the least contaminated. At the same time, several toxins were found in 91% of tomato paste samples, 35% of ketchups, and 23% of tomato juices. Conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first survey devoted to Alternaria toxins contamination of tomato paste, ketchup and tomato juice sold on the Russian market. The high frequency of their contamination with tenuazonic acid, altenuene and, to a lesser extent, alternariol has been established, which indicates a potential risk to human health when tomato processing products are consumed. This indicates the need for a hygienic assessment of contamination the above products with tenuazonic acid, altenuene and alternariol. When calculating the potential intake of Alternaria toxins for different age population groups, it was shown that high levels of alternariol (up to 56.77 ng/kg body weight per day) could be obtained under daily consumption of tomato juice by adults and children under three years of age, as well as tenuazonic acid when consuming tomato juice contaminated at the 95th percentile level as part of the diet in organized groups for orphans and children without parental care.

[Mycotoxins in spices consumed in Russia].

Spices and herbs have been used since ancient times as flavor and aroma enhancers, colorants, preservatives and traditional medicines. As many other plant products, they can be exposed to contaminants, ones of which are mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of fungi. Such contamination can occur during harvesting, processing and storage, distribution, retailing and consumer use. Although they are used and consumed in small quantities, but added to a wide variety of products, especially ready-to-eat products. So the assessment of their contamination with mycotoxins is very important. The aim of the study was to investigate the contamination of spices and herbs with mycotoxins of fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Alternaria, as well as to assess the mycotoxins intake per person when consuming these food groups. Material and methods. Concentration of mycotoxins in 155 samples of spices and herbs was determined by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass-spectrometric detection (UHPLC-MS/MS). The list of mycotoxins included deoxynivalenol, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, T-2 toxin, fumonisins, sterigmatocistin, HT-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, enniatins, beauvericin, neosolaniol, citreoviridin, mycophenolic acid, citrinin, tentoxin, altenuene, alternariol and its monomethyl ether. Results. Among the regulated in plant products mycotoxins in the studied samples there were found aflatoxins (B1 - in 19% of samples, from 0.4 to 48.2 µg/kg, B2 - 8%, from < limit of quantitation (LOQ) to 3.2 µg/kg, G1 - 2%, 0.75-21 µg/kg, G2 - 5%, 0.5- 12.5 µg/kg), ochratoxin A (15% samples, 0.8-14 µg/kg), fumonisin B1 (8%, 16.1-722.6 µg/kg), and fumonisin B2 (14%, < LOQ - 79.6 µg/kg). T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol were found in 10% of samples (< LOQ - 6.5 µg/kg and < LOQ - 65.5 µg/kg respectively), zearalenone - in 4 samples (1.7-106.2 µg/kg), HT-2 toxin - in 8 samples (5.4-19.8 µg/kg). Among little-studied (emergent) mycotoxins in the spices and herbs samples there were found tentoxin (in 36% of samples, in an amount from 0.7 to 10.9 µg/kg), altenuene (in 8%, 14.5-161.5 µg/kg). 10% of the samples were contaminated with alternariol and its methyl ether (from less than LOQ to 12.8 and < LOQ to 55.7 µg/kg, respectively), 4% - with sterigmatocystin (0.4-7.8 µg/kg), 5% - mycophenolic acid (13.1-297 µg/kg), 2% of the samples were contaminated with citrinin and enniatin B (< LOQ - 27.7 and 0.1-1 µg/kg), in 9 samples (6%) beauvericin was detected (< LOQ - 1.7 µg/kg). Over 60% of samples were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin. The content of aflatoxin B1 exceeded the maximum permissible level set in the EU (5 µg/kg) in nine samples. Conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first in the Russian Federation to report results indicating to the contamination of spices and herbs with mycotoxins. High occurrence of aflatoxins, tentoxin, ochratoxin A and fumonisin B2 has been observed. In calculating the potential exposure of mycotoxins, the possibility of high levels of aflatoxin B1 intake have been shown to be possible, which could lead to a public health risk when consuming contaminated spices, herbs and foods containing them.

[Mycotoxins contamination of cocoa products and carob marketed in the Russian Federation].

Cocoa is a daily basic food for many people all over the world. Also, people engaged in healthy lifestyle often prefer carob. The aim of the present study was to evaluate occurrence of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Alternaria secondary metabolites in cocoa and carob available in the Russian Federation and assess mycotoxin's intake with these products. Material and methods. Concentration of 27 mycotoxins in 63 samples of cocoa and carob products was determined by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass-spectrometric detection (UPLC-MS/MS). The list of mycotoxins included regulated ones (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, T-2 toxin, zearalenone), their derivatives and structural analogs (A and B trichothecenes), and emergent mycotoxins (alternariol, its monomethyl ether, altenuene, tentoxin, citrinin, sterigmatocistin, cyclopiazonic and mycophenolic acids, enniatins, beauvericin). Results. 29 of 41 cocoa samples were positive for beauvericin, contamination level was from 1.6 to 2184.8 µg/kg. Tentoxin, sterigmatocystin and alternatiol monomethyl ether were detected in 3 samples; their concentration varied in the ranges 0.7-1.2, 1.5-3.3 and 4.0-7.8 µg/kg correspondingly. Carob samples were positive for alternariol (14 of 22 samples, 1.5-43.1 µg/kg); tentoxin (13 samples, 0.5-8.7 µg/kg), mycophenolic acid (6 samples, 6.9-8.2 µg/kg) and for alternatiol monomethyl ether (3 samples, 1.0-1.2 µg/kg). Several samples of cocoa were contaminated with regulated mycotoxins: zearalenone (18 of 41 samples, 2.1-24.6 µg/kg), ochratoxin A (14 samples, 0.75-12.0 µg/kg) and aflatoxin B1 (2 samples, 0.59 and 0.86 µg/ kg). Several carob samples were contaminated with fumonisin B2 (7 of 22 samples, 4.2-5.2 µg/kg), ochratoxin A (5 samples, 0.5-1.4 µg/kg) and aflatoxin B1 (3 samples, 0.15-0.18 µg/kg). The ochratoxin A content in two instant cocoa beverages exceeded its maximum level (5 µg/kg) set for some plant products. Conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first survey devoted to emergent mycotoxin contamination of carob and cocoa alternative products marketed in the Russian Federation. The high occurrence of such mycotoxins as aflatoxins, beauvericin and ochratoxin A in these products indicates a potential health risk and the need for a hygienic assessment of cocoa and carob products' contamination not only with regulated in cocoa products aflatoxin B1, but with other mycotoxin including emergent ones. The risk of dietary intake of aflatoxins, beauvericin and ochratoxin A with cocoa products (especially with instant cocoa beverages) has been revealed for children over 7 years old in organized groups.

[Dried fruits marketed in Russia: multi-mycotoxin contamination].

Mycotoxins (MT) - secondary metabolites of micromycetes - are natural contaminants of plant products. Fruits are particularly susceptible to fungal contamination and MT accumulation due to high sugar content. It can occur at any production stage: during vegetation, drying and storage. The most hazardous MT - aflatoxins (AFLs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) - are regulated in dried fruits in some countries. However, their maximum levels (ML) were not set in Russia yet. The present research was aimed at the evaluation of MT contamination of dried fruits marketed in Russia. Material and methods. 54 samples of dried dates (n=11), apricots (n=9), raisins (n=9), prunes (n=7), figs (n=6), apples (n=3) and mixtures for compote (n=9) were analyzed for 32 MTs by HPLC-MS/MS with positive/negative ESI in the MRM mode. Results. OTA and fumonisins (FBs) were the major regulated contaminants, their occurrence proved to be 10 and 17% correspondingly. Emergent metabolites of Fusarium spp. enniatin A (ENN A, 22%) and beauvericin (BEA, 15%); Penicillium spp. mycophenolic and cyclopiazonic acids (MPA and CPA, about 19%); Alternaria spp. tentoxin (TE, 17%) were detected also. Two-thirds of positive samples were contaminated with two and more MTs. All studied samples could be referred as safe within the EU regulations. Conclusion. Some kinds of dry fruits proved to be susceptible to contamination with particular MTs. Characteristic pattern for raisin was the OTA and MPA combination, for figs - FBs and CPA. According to literature data concerning occurrence and safety of MTs and the results of our survey, the long-term monitoring of AFLs and OTA in dry fruits and AFLs, OTA, FBs and CPA in figs from different regions of Russia is necessary to assess the need for setting of MLs of these MTs.