Evaluation of fumonisin contamination in cornflakes on the Belgian market by flow-through assay screening and LC-MS/MS analyses

A total of 205 cornflake samples collected in Belgian retail stores during 2003-2004 were surveyed for the natural occurrence of fumonisin B-1 (FB1), B-3 (FB3), and B-3 (FB3). These cornflake samples, originating from conventional as well as from organic production, were analyzed using an intralaboratory-validated LC-MS/MS method. Additionally, 90 cornflake samples were subjected to rapid screening using a flow-through enzyme immunoassay method to demonstrate the practicability of a screening test coupled to a validated confirmatory LC-MS/MS method for the management of food safety risks. FB1 concentrations ranged from not detected (nd) [LOD (FB1) = 20 mu g/kg] to 464 mu g/kg with mean and median concentrations of respectively 104 +/- 113 and 54 mu g/kg. For FB2 and FB3, the concentration ranges varied respectively from nd [LOD (FB2) = 7.5 mu g/kg] to 43 mu g/kg and from nd [LOD (FB3) = 12.5 mu g/kg] to 90 mu g/kg. Mean concentrations for FB2 and FB3 were respectively 12 +/- 8 and 21 +/- 15 mu g/kg, while the median concentration was 11 mu g/kg for FB2 and 19 mu g/kg for FB3. From the statistical tests (chi(2) and ANOVA model III), it could be concluded that the agricultural practice did not have any significant effect on the fumonisin concentrations but that the variation between different batches was significant (p < 0.0001).