Ochratoxin A in conventional and organic cereal derivatives: a survey of the Italian market, 2001–02
- 1 June 2004
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Food Additives & Contaminants
- Vol. 21 (6), 586-591
- https://doi.org/10.1080/02652030410001687708
Abstract
Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced mainly by Penicillium verrucosum and Aspergillus ochraceus. Although typically considered a cereal contaminant, it has also been detected in dried fruit, nuts, meat and derivatives. To estimate the quantity of ochratoxin A that might be ingested by Italian consumers from these foods, 211 cereal derivatives (flours and bakery products) were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Products were from conventional and organic agriculture and from integrated pest management agriculture. All commercial flours and derivatives examined contained ochratoxin A at concentrations very much below the legal limit (3 μg kg−1): the highest value, 0.816 μg kg−1, was detected in a sample of spelt whole flour from organic agriculture. In many samples, the ochratoxin content was below the limit of detection; only rarely did values exceed 0.5 μg kg−1. In baby foods, four samples were above the particularly restrictive Italian legal limit of 0.5 μg kg−1. Although some significant differences were found between samples from conventional and organic agriculture when some product categories were examined (namely, baby foods as semolina and rice creams), no important difference was found between the two types of agricultural practice when all types of cereal derivatives were considered together.Keywords
This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- On ochratoxin A and fungal flora in Polish cereals from conventional and ecological farms. Part 2: Occurrence of ochratoxin A and fungi in cereals in 1998Food Additives & Contaminants, 2002
- On ochratoxin A and fungal flora in Polish cereals from conventional and ecological farms - Part 1: Occurrence of ochratoxin A and fungi in cereals in 1997Food Additives & Contaminants, 2002
- Ochratoxin A in cereal-based baby foods: occurrence and safety evaluationFood Additives & Contaminants, 2002
- Analysis of ochratoxin A in pig kidney and rye flour using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)Food Additives & Contaminants, 1999
- Surveillance of stored grain from the 1997 harvest in the United Kingdom for ochratoxin AFood Additives & Contaminants, 1999
- Survey of pork, poultry, coffee, beer and pulses for ochratoxin AFood Additives & Contaminants, 1998
- Ochratoxin A in table wine and grape‐juice: Occurrence and risk assessment∗Food Additives & Contaminants, 1996
- Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin — a contamination of dried figs (Ficus carina L) from the 1988 cropMycotoxin Research, 1991
- Ochratoxin A found in commercial roast coffeeJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1988
- Ochratoxin A formation by isolated strains of the conidial stage of Aspergillus glaucus Link ex Grey (= Eurotium herbariorum Wiggers Link ex Gray) from cereal grainsMolecular Nutrition & Food Research, 1987