Mycobiota and mycotoxins in malted barley and brewer's spent grain from Argentinean breweries

Aims: To evaluate mycobiota and aflatoxins B-1 (AFB(1)), B-2 (AFB(2)), G(1) (AFG(1)), G(2) (AFG(2)) and fumonisin B-1 (FB1) contamination in different malted barley types and brands and brewers grain collected from a major Argentinean brewery. Methods and Results: Total fungal counts were performed using the plate count method. Aflatoxin B-1, AFB(2), AFG(1), AFG(2) and Zearalenone (ZEA) analyses were performed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Fumonisin B-1 was determined by HPLC. Eighty-three percentage of the malted barley (100% M1, 50% M2 and 100% M3) and 61% of brewer's grain samples had a count >1 x 10(4) CFU g(-1). Yeasts were isolated from all malt and brewer's grain samples. Genera containing some of the most important mycotoxin producer species - Fusarium ssp., Aspergillus ssp., Penicillium ssp. and Alternaria ssp. - were isolated from the analysed samples, along with other environmental saprophytic fungi such as Geotrichum ssp., Mucorales and Cladosporium ssp. All samples were contaminated with 104-145 mu g kg(-1) FB1. Eighteen per cent of brewer's grain samples were contaminated with 19-44.52 mu g kg(-1) AFB(1). Aflatoxin B-2, AFG(1), AFG(2) and ZEA were not detected in any of the analysed samples. Conclusions: Fungal and mycotoxin contamination in malt and brewer's grain is an actual risk for animal and human health. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study may be useful for assessing the risk of mycotoxins in Argentinean beers and especially in animal feeds.