Presence of mycotoxins in Tunisian infant foods samples and subsequent risk assessment. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oueslati, S.; Berrada, H.; Mañes, J.; Juan, C.
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 84(2018)
• Page Start: 362
• Page End: 369
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Mycotoxins -- Cereals -- Infant population -- Liquid chromatography -- Gas chromatography -- Daily intake -- Mass spectrometry; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2017.08.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: A study on a set of cereal and cereal-based products (n = 117) intended for infant consumption was performed to determine the natural presence of twenty different mycotoxins by both liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Analytical data showed that 67% of analyzed samples were contaminated by at least one mycotoxin at variable levels. Deoxynivalenol presented the highest incidence (38%) and reached a maximum level of 240 ng/g in a bsissa sample (oat product), higher than the maximum level set for DON in cereal products (200 ng/g). While, enniatin B was found in 25 samples with a maximum level of 316 ng/g found also in a bsissa sample. Furthermore, 32% of positive samples showed co-occurrence of at least two mycotoxins, and a combination of up to six different mycotoxins was found within the positive samples. It was also observed that only the intake of bsissa and sorghum samples may pose a real OTA and HT-2 toxin health risk to the high consumers. Overall, no toxicological concern was associated to mycotoxins exposure for infant population; but a special attention should be paid to samples with co-occurring mycotoxins, where the estimated daily intake increase considerably for high consumers. Highlights: First survey on the mycotoxins presence in cereal baby food from Tunisia. 67% of analyzed samples were contaminated by at least one mycotoxin at variable levels. DON had the highest incidence (38%) with a maximum level of 240 ng/g in a bsissa sample. 32% of positive samples showed co-occurrence of at least two mycotoxins. No toxicological risk was registrated for infant consumers in Tunisia.