Famonisin B1 and ochratoxin A in beers made in Brazil

Samples of beer made in Brazil were analyzed for the presence of fumonisin B, (FBI) and ochratoxin A (OTA). FB1 was searched for in 58 beer samples from 30 plants located in nine states. The samples were concentrated and cleaned up with strong ion exchange column, derivatized with OPA and analyzed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The limit of detection was 0.26 ng.mL(-1) and the average recovery was 98%. Twenty-five samples contained FBI ranging from 1 to 40 ng.mL(-1). Beer (123 samples) from 36 plants located in 5 states were analyzed for OTA by means of immunoaffinity column cleanup followed by liquid chromatography associated with fluorescence. The detection limit was 0.1 ng.mL(-1) and the average recovery was 92%. Five samples contained OTA in concentrations from 1 to 18 ng.mL(-1). The results indicate that FBI and OTA contamination in Brazilian beer is not geographically limited and that beer does not contribute significantly to FBI intake by consumers. In the case of regular high ingestion, beer could contribute sizably to OTA, intake although still below the maximum considered tolerable for the toxin.