ABSTRACT
Fusarium spp. invasion causes head blight, a destructive disease in the world's main wheat-growing areas, and deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) contamination in cereal-based products. No data are available on the relationship between Fusarium spp. on commercial wheat samples in Mexico City and the presence of mycotoxins. A total of 30 wheat samples were subject to a PCR method involving genes of the trichothecene and zearalenone biosynthesis pathways to detect the presence of Fusarium. Detection and quantification of DON and ZEA was performed using liquid chromatography coupled to UV detection. PCR indicated the presence of the Tri5 and PKS4 genes in 16.7 and 23.3% of samples, respectively. DON and ZEA contamination was found in 51.2 and 71.4% of samples, respectively, where a positive amplification was obtained. This work presents up-to-date information on mycotoxin contamination in Mexico, where improved contamination/exposure data and firm control/monitoring measures are needed.
Subject(s)
Food Contamination , Fusarium/isolation & purification , Poisons/analysis , Seeds/chemistry , Trichothecenes/analysis , Triticum/chemistry , Zearalenone/analysis , Carbon-Carbon Lyases/genetics , Carbon-Carbon Lyases/metabolism , Diet/adverse effects , Food Inspection , Fungal Proteins/genetics , Fungal Proteins/metabolism , Fusarium/classification , Fusarium/metabolism , Guideline Adherence , Health Policy , Health Promotion , Humans , Mexico , Molecular Typing , Mycological Typing Techniques , Poisons/toxicity , Risk Assessment , Seeds/adverse effects , Seeds/microbiology , Trichothecenes/toxicity , Triticum/adverse effects , Triticum/economics , Triticum/microbiology , Zearalenone/toxicityABSTRACT
Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by species of Penicillium, Aspergillus and Byssochylamys. Several Scientific Committees classify patulin as mutagenic, embryotoxic and immunotoxic. It has been found as a natural contaminant of processed apple products and its presence may be indicative of the quality of fruit used in production. In this work, a method for the analysis of patulin is described, based on a simple liquid-liquid extraction with acetonitrile; patulin is analyzed using liquid chromatography with UV detection. Patulin identity was confirmed by GC-MS after its reaction with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. Fifty-three apple-containing products were analyzed and patulin was detected in 14 samples in a range 1.5-50.9 microg l(-1); six of which were above the maximum permitted level of the European Union. Based on these results and juice consumption by the Spanish adult population, patulin estimated intake was 0.42 ng kg(-1) body weight per day.
Subject(s)
Food Contamination/analysis , Fruit/chemistry , Malus/metabolism , Patulin/analysis , Beverages/analysis , Chromatography, Liquid/methods , Food Analysis/methods , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods , Humans , Mutagens/administration & dosage , Mutagens/analysis , Patulin/administration & dosage , Spain , Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet/methodsABSTRACT
Ochratoxin A (OTA) was extracted from 100 bread samples by using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and analyzed with liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. The presence of OTA was confirmed by methyl-ester derivatization. Bread samples were bought from different bakeries and supermarkets, 74 of non-organic and 26 of organic bread. The incidence of OTA varied between 20.3% and 23.0% for non-organic and organic bread, respectively. The highest values were obtained with non-organic versus organic products, five samples exceeded the European maximum permitted limit of OTA (3 ng/g) for this product. Estimated daily intake of OTA in this study was 1.6 ng/kg b.w./day. This value represents 32% and 10% of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) according to the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Commission and the FAO/WHO Committee of Experts on Food Additives, respectively. The daily intake estimated from this study reflects the necessity to take a vigilant attitude to guarantee food safety.
Subject(s)
Agriculture/methods , Bread/analysis , Food Contamination/analysis , Ochratoxins/administration & dosage , Ochratoxins/analysis , Chromatography, Liquid , Consumer Product Safety , Humans , Incidence , Ochratoxins/isolation & purification , SpainABSTRACT
Fifty four samples of pasteurized milk produced by five different dairies from Morocco were surveyed for the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) using immunoaffinity columns and liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection. Confirmation of AFM1 identity in positive samples was based on the formation of AFM1 hemi-acetal derivative (AFM2a) after derivatization with trifluoracetic acid. Analytical results showed that 88.8% of the samples were contaminated with AFM1; 7.4% being above the maximum level of 0.05 microg/L set by the Moroccan and European regulations for AFM1 in liquid milk. The incidence of AFM1 in milk from these dairies was 100, 92.3, 90, 83.3 and 77.7% respectively, with AFM1 levels ranging from 0.001 to 0.117 microg/L and a mean value of 0.0186 microg/L. Based on the results presented in this study, the estimated daily intake of AFM1 was 3.26 ng/person/day. In this work, data on the natural occurrence of AFM1 in pasteurized milk produced in Morocco is presented for the first time.
