Mycotoxin occurrence in corn meal and flour traded in Sao Paulo, Brazil

In the present study, 60 samples of corn meal and flour traded in S (a) over tildeo Paulo were analysed for determination of aflatoxins and fumonisins B-1 (FB1) and B-2 (FB2). No aflatoxin was found in samples of both products. In corn meal, the concentrations of FBI and FB2 ranged from 1.1 to 15.3 mg kg(-1) (mean: 5.2 mg kg(-1)) and 0.2 to 3.9 mg kg(-1) (mean: 1.0 mg kg(-1)), respectively. Corn flour presented lower levels of FB1 (0.5-7.2 mg kg(-1); mean: 2.1 mg kg(-1)) and FB2 (0.1-1.8 mg kg(-1); mean: 0.7 mg kg(-1)). Considering the average values of FBI found in corn meal samples, as well as food consumption estimates in Brazil, the worst case of FBI consumption would be 2.9 mug kg body weight(-1) per day. Results indicate the need for the adoption of practices to control the occurrence of fumonisins by manufacturers of corn products, mainly in corn meal. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.