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Determination of Alternaria toxins in food and feed
Project
Project code: BfR-SiN-08-1322-482
Contract period: 01.03.2011
- 31.12.2015
Purpose of research: Inventory & Assessment
Different food and feedstuffs or basic materials thereof can be affected by molds and could therefore contain mycotoxins endangering human or animal health. These molds also include the genus Alternaria (black molds) which is able to infect cereals, but also vegetables and fruits. Depending on the species a variety of toxins could be produced and remain in the corresponding food or feed. In the year 2003, the BfR already evaluated Alternaria toxins in foodstuffs with regard to a potential risk for human health. The current opinion of the BfR is that the black molds produce mycotoxins in different amounts causing diverse affects and could therefor be a threat to the health of animals and humans. However, until now the chemical structure of only approximately 30 Alternaria toxins is known and only for 7 toxins thereof very few toxicological data are available. At now, the database concerning contamination of foodstuffs by Alternaria toxins is very limited; so, the exposition of consumers by Alternaria toxins could not be assessed. Regarding feedstuff the situation is particularly comparable, especially concerning grass and maize silages. How far animal health could be affected by Alternaria toxins is as unclear as a possible transfer of Alternaria toxins into products of animal origin. The potential health risk emanating from this group of mycotoxins is therefore currently not assessable. Results: Obtaining additional data relating to the contamination of food and feedstuffs with Alternaria toxins is a high priority in order to assess human/animal exposure and resulting health risks. The aim of this special research project was therefore to develop a robust multi-Alternaria toxin analytical method using HPLC/MS/MS (high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry). The intention was to apply the method for a market screening of Alternaria toxin levels in food and feed. An HPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of the five major toxins - AME, AOH, ALT,TEA, TEN – (and additionally altertoxin I and II, stemphyltoxin III, altenuic acid III and AAL TB1 and TB2) in fruit and vegetable juices, wine and in feed material (forage maize) products was successfully established and inhouse validated. Further a screening of 78 fruit and vegetable juices and 25 wines (red and white) and 45 forage maize samples was carried out.
Section overview
Subjects
- Toxicology
