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Multi-mycotoxin analytics of pulses

Project

Food and consumer protection

This project contributes to the research aim 'Food and consumer protection'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Food and consumer protection


Project code: BfR-SiN-08-1322-703
Contract period: 01.01.2018 - 31.12.2019
Purpose of research: Experimental development

Legumes are a valuable source for carbohydrates and proteins. Due to globalization, the diversity of commercial supply of legumes steadily increases. Even though their importance is rising, there is still only few data available on mycotoxin occurrence in legumes. A small number of studies suggests that, similar to grains, pulses can be contaminated with highly cancerogenic aflatoxins, zearalenone (ZEN), trichothecenes or the “emerging mycotoxin” Phomopsin A (PHOA). Schollenberger at al. 2007 showed at least one Fusarium toxin in 11 out of 45 soy products. In 2001, Omurtag et al. detected T-2 toxin in beans and chickpeas from the Turkish market. PHOA is known as a mycotoxin contaminant in lupins and no data on the contamination level of other legumes exists up to date. A screening method based on LC-MS/MS covering a multitude of mycotoxins could provide valuable insight into possible risks from legume mycotoxin contamination. Additional focus is put on PHOA that causes fatal liver damage to sheep, as the European Commission classifies it as an emerging mycotoxin. Also in grains modified mycotoxins present additional to the free form of often regulated mycotoxins. For several modified toxins it could be shown that they possess a toxicological potency which in many cases is very similar to the toxicity of the parent compound. In addition, toxins for which the toxicity has not been investigated in detail (emerging mycotoxins, e.g. beauvericin and enniatins) may be formed mainly by Fusarium species on various grains. For these emerging toxins only very limited occurrence data in food exist. Thus, a conclusive risk assessment is not possible. Also, for DON or ZEN distinct processing factors can be calculated as studies have been carried out investigating the toxin decrease/accumulation during process steps such as milling or thermal treatment. By contrast, the behaviour and potential transformation reaction of both, emerging as well as modified mycotoxins in food processing has not been investigated yet and processing factors cannot be derived to date. Amongst a multitude of possible processing techniques, such treatments applied for the preparation of infant food are of particular importance as the consumer group is extraordinarily vulnerable. State of Research: In cooperation with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) the production of high amounts of PHOA on legumes was shown. However, nothing is known about the fate of PHOA in contaminated legume material that is subjected to food processing methods. Based on the cooperation contract with the group of Prof. Rohn at the University of Hamburg signed in 2017 authentic and well characterized legume sample material is provided. This is due to his participation in the LEGVALUE consortium as well as the national Demonstration network Pea/Bean (DemoNetErBo). This sample access offers the possibility to conduct structural and regionally distinct investigation on possible mycotoxin contamination in pea and bean. First screening of cooperation samples show low contents of T-2 toxin and hints on contamination with enniatins and Alternaria toxins. The investigation of dried grain legumes from retail markets showed T-2 toxin above LOD in lentils and quantifiable Ochratoxin A (OTA) content in green peas and white beans. At the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Mycotoxins, a multi mycotoxin method in wheat and soy was established and validated. This method is based on a Stabile Isotope Dilution Assay (SIDA). This method shall be adapted to processed cereal based infant food and applied to food items prepared at the partnering University of Lleida (Spain). Which leads to following questions: - Can further mycotoxins such as PHOA, enniatins or selected Alternaria toxins be integrated into the existing multi-mycotoxin method? - Is an LC-MS/MS method following a simplified QuEChERS cleanup sufficient to achieve the required sensitivity for quantification of Fusarium mycotoxins in baby and infant food? - To which level are legumes that are grown by the EU wide partners contaminated with mycotoxins? Is there a correlation between production, storage and transport conditions and the mycotoxin contamination which is found? - What is the fate of PHOA (where appropriate OTA) in food technologically processed legume material? - Does any accumulation or decrease of the modified and emerging mycotoxin content occur along the cereal processing chain and if so - can particular technological parameters be identified that lead to a decrease of the mycotoxin amount?

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Framework programme

BMEL Frameworkprogramme 2008

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