FOOD. Science. Technology. Quality

Food. SCIENCE. Technology. Quality

Food. Science. TECHNOLOGY. Quality

Food. Science. Technology. QUALITY

Authors

RENATA STANISŁAWCZYK, MARIUSZ RUDY, BERNADETTA ŚWIĄTEK

Title

The occurrence of mycotoxins in cereals and cereal products present in retail outlets in the province of Podkarpacie

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the content of the following micotoxins: aflatoxin B1, the sum of B1, B2, G1, and G2 aflatoxins, A ochratoxin (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEA) in cereals and cereal products present in the retail market in the Province of Podkarpacie. The highest average content of deoxynivalenol (DON) was determined in the cereal grain and flour. Additionally, in the case of one sample of flour, the maximum concentration of the mycotoxin (784 µg/kg) analyzed exceeded the permissible level of 750 µg/kg. The concentration of zearalenone (ZEA), determined in the cereal grain and cereal products, was evidently lower than the content of deoxynivalenol. It was found that in no samples analyzed, the content of this micotoxin exceeded the assumed permissible limit thereof. The highest concentration of A ochratoxin (OTA) occurred in the cereal grain (1.23 µg/kg) and flour (1.44 µg/kg). As for the pasta samples tested, it was proved that in 6.6 % of the studied material, the concentration of A ochratoxin (OTA) exceeded the recommended value. The average content of B1 aflatoxin in cereal products did not exceed the assumed permissible level. Only in 9.5% of the pasta samples analyzed, the concentration of the latter mycotoxin exceeded twofold the permissible limit. The highest average content of the sum of B1, B2, G1, and G2 aflatoxins was in the flour samples (0.77 µg/kg). The average content of those mycotoxins in all other cereal products tested was equal (0.30 µg/kg) and did not exceed the permitted values.

Keywords

mycotoxins, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA)

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