Progress in processing and certification of new mycotoxin matrix reference materials for mycotoxin analysis ERM-BD285 (pistachios), ERM-BD286 (paprika powder) and ERM-BC473 (barley)

This report describes the processing and certification of a set of new mycotoxin reference materials for the determination of the aflatoxin content in pistachio powder (ERM BD285), the determination of the aflatoxin and ochratoxin A content in paprika powder (ERM BD286) as well as the determination of ochratoxin A content in barley (ERM BC473) to improve the quality of analytical data in the field of mycotoxins in food and to support EU legislation. An overview is given regarding the base materials, project planning, homogeneity, short-term stability and characterisation studies of the above mentioned materials. Furthermore, achievements as well as the currently on-going studies, the recruitment of competent laboratories and other planned activities are described.JRC.D.5-Standards for Food Bioscienc

Risks to human and animal health related to the presence of deoxynivalenol and its acetylated and modified forms in food and feed

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin primarily produced by Fusarium fungi, occurring predominantly in cereal grains. Following the request of the European Commission, the CONTAM Panel assessed the risk to animal and human health related to DON, 3-acetyl-DON (3-Ac-DON), 15-acetyl-DON (15-Ac-DON) and DON-3-glucoside in food and feed. A total of 27,537, 13,892, 7,270 and 2,266 analytical data for DON, 3-Ac-DON, 15-Ac-DON and DON-3-glucoside, respectively, in food, feed and unprocessed grains collected from 2007 to 2014 were used. For human exposure, grains and grain-based products were main sources, whereas in farm and companion animals, cereal grains, cereal by-products and forage maize contributed most. DON is rapidly absorbed, distributed, and excreted. Since 3-Ac-DON and 15-Ac-DON are largely deacetylated and DON-3-glucoside cleaved in the intestines the same toxic effects as DON can be expected. The TDI of 1 μg/kg bw per day, that was established for DON based on reduced body weight gain in mice, was therefore used as a group-TDI for the sum of DON, 3-Ac-DON, 15-Ac-DON and DON-3-glucoside. In order to assess acute human health risk, epidemiological data from mycotoxicoses were assessed and a group-ARfD of 8 μg/kg bw per eating occasion was calculated. Estimates of acute dietary exposures were below this dose and did not raise a health concern in humans. The estimated mean chronic dietary exposure was above the group-TDI in infants, toddlers and other children, and at high exposure also in adolescents and adults, indicating a potential health concern. Based on estimated mean dietary concentrations in ruminants, poultry, rabbits, dogs and cats, most farmed fish species and horses, adverse effects are not expected. At the high dietary concentrations, there is a potential risk for chronic adverse effects in pigs and fish and for acute adverse effects in cats and farmed mink

Sterigmatocystin: occurrence in foodstuffs and analytical methods: an overview

Sterigmatocystin (STC) is a mycotoxin produced by fungi of many different Aspergillus species. Other species such as Bipolaris, Chaetomium, Emiricella are also able to produce STC. STC producing fungi were frequently isolated from different foodstuffs, while STC was regularly detected in grains, corn, bread, cheese, spices, coffee beans, soybeans, pistachio nuts, animal feed and silage. STC shows different toxicological, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects in animals and has been recognized as a 213 carcinogen (possible human carcinogen) by International Agency for Research on Cancer. There are more than 775 publications available in Scopus (and more than 505 in PubMed) mentioning STC, but there is no summary information available about STC occurrence and analysis in food. This review presents an overview of the worldwide information on the occurrence of STC in different foodstuffs during the last 40 years, and describes the progress made in analytical methodology for the determination of STC in food

Determination of sterigmatocystin in cheese by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Different cheese samples produced in Latvia (eight) and Belgium (13) were analysed for their sterigmatocystin (STC) content. Only two (9.5%) of the samples were positive for STC with concentration levels of 1.23 and 0.52 g kg-1, respectively. Five (24%) samples contained STC above the limit of detection (0.03 g kg-1) but below the limit of quantification (0.1 g kg-1), A sensitive liquid chromatography-electrospray positive ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method, which was previously developed for the analysis of STC in grains, was modified and applied to the analysis of STC in cheese. This method involved sample extraction with acetonitrile-water (90 : 10, v/v), defatting with n-hexane, solid-phase extraction, separation on a reversed-phase C18 column, and STC detection by LC-MS/MS

Certification report: The certification of the mass fraction of aflatoxins B1 and G1 in paprika powder: ERM®-BD286

This report describes the production of ERM®-BD286, which is a matrix material certified for the mass fraction of aflatoxins B1 and G1 in paprika powder. This material was produced following ISO 17034:2016 [1] and is certified in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2017 [2]. The starting material consisted of two naturally contaminated batches of paprika powder. Both batches were thoroughly sieved, cryogenically milled, and homogenised before they were mixed in equal quantities. After homogenisation and sieving the powder was manually filled in amber glass bottles. The bottles were packed in plastic-aluminised sachets that were heat sealed. The sachets were sterilised by -irradiation. Between-unit homogeneity was quantified and stability during dispatch and storage were assessed in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2017 [2]. Within-unit homogeneity was quantified to determine the minimum sample intake. The material was characterised by an interlaboratory comparison of laboratories of demonstrated competence and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 [3]. Technically invalid results were removed but no outlier was eliminated on statistical grounds only. Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in accordance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) [4] and include uncertainties related to possible inhomogeneity, instability and characterisation. The material is intended for the quality control and assessment of method performance. As with any reference material, it can be used for establishing control charts or validation studies. The certified reference material is available in amber glass bottles packed in aluminised plastic sachets each containing at least 100 g of paprika powder. The minimum amount of sample to be used is 10 g.JRC.F.6-Reference Material