Occurrence of four mycotoxins in cereal and oil products in Yangtze Delta region of China and their food safety risks

A total of 76 cereal and oil products collected from Yangtze Delta region of China were analyzed for occurrences of aflatoxins (AFs), aflatoxin B-1 (AEB(1)), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN). The mycotoxins were determined by the standard detection procedures using immunoaffinity column clean-up coupled with fluorometer (or HPLC-UV). ZEN was the most prevalent toxin, with the incidence of 27.6% (range = 10.0-440.0 itg kg(-1)), and 9.2% of the evaluated samples were contaminated with a concentration higher than that of the legislation limit of China (60 mu g AFs and AFBi were detected in 14.5% of the samples analyzed, the concentrations ranging 1.1-35.0 mu g kg(-1) for AFs, and 1.0-32.2 pg kg(-1) for AFBi; 4.0% of the samples had the concentrations of AFs and AFBi higher than that of the corresponding legislation limits of China (5.0, 10.0 and 20:0 itg kg(-1) for different products). OTA was detected in 14.5% of the cereal and oil products collected; the concentrations ranged 0.51-16.2 mu g kg(-1). Only 2 samples showed OTA levels higher than that of the legislation limit of China (5.0 mu g kg(-1)). DON was detected in 7.9% of the samples; the concentrations ranged 100-700 mu g kg(-1); and none of the samples showed DON concentration higher than that of the legislation limit of China (1.0 mg kg(-1)). A total of 15.8% cereal and oil products were contaminated with at least two mycotoxins (multiple contaminations with different combinations including AFs-ZEN, AFs-OTA-ZEN, OTA-ZEN, ZEN-DON, OTA-ZEN-DON). The dietary exposure assessment results indicated that AFs (AFB(1)), OTA, DON and ZEN from cereal-based products represented a series health risk to both adults and children in Yangtze Delta region of China. This is the first report of safety evaluation associated with major mycotoxins for the area. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.