Emanuela Gregori

Development of a LC-MS/MS Method for the Multi-Mycotoxin Determination in Composite Cereal-Based Samples

The analytical scenario for determining contaminants in the food and feed sector is constantly prompted by the progress and improvement of knowledge and expertise of researchers and by the technical innovation of the instrumentation available. Mycotoxins are agricultural contaminants of fungal origin occurring at all latitudes worldwide and being characterized by acute and chronic effects on human health and animal wellness, depending on the species sensitivity. The major mycotoxins of food concern are aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A, the first for its toxicity, and the second for its recurrent occurrence. However, the European legislation sets maximum limits for mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, and zearalenone, and indicative limits for T-2 and HT-2 toxins. Due to the actual probability that co-occurring mycotoxins are present in a food or feed product, nowadays, the availability of reliable, sensitive, and versatile multi-mycotoxin methods is assuming a relevant importance. Due to the wide range of matrices susceptible to mycotoxin contamination and the possible co-occurrence, a multi-mycotoxin and multi-matrix method was validated in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with the purpose to overcome specific matrix effects and analyze complex cereal-based samples within the Italian Total Diet Study project.

Exposure assessment to mycotoxins in gluten-free diet for celiac patients

Mycotoxins are low molecular weight secondary metabolites produced by certain strains of filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium, which attack crops in the field, and grow on foods also during storage under favorable conditions of temperature and humidity. Foods mainly contributing to the intake of mycotoxins with diet are cereals, maize being the most risky commodity due to the potential co-occurrence of more than one mycotoxin, this can be of particular concern especially for vulnerable group of population such as celiac patients that show increased maize-based products consumption. In this study the exposure of celiac patients to fumonisins (FBs) and zearalenone (ZON) has been assessed. The higher exposures, for all the matrices and for both the selected mycotoxins, were for children age group. The lower and upper bound exposure ranged between 348-582 ng/kg bw/day for FBs and 22-83 ng/kg bw/day for ZON; these values result well below the TDI for the selected mycotoxins, representing the 17-29% and 9-33% of the TDI set for FBs and ZON, respectively. Even considering the worst scenario the exposure values reported for children were lower, namely 1385 ng/kg bw/day for FBs and 237 ng/kg bw/day for ZON, than the corresponding toxicological thresholds.

Exposure Assessment for Italian Population Groups to Deoxynivalenol Deriving from Pasta Consumption

Four hundred and seventy-two pasta samples were collected from long retail distribution chain sales points located in North, Central and South Italy. Representative criteria in the sample collection were followed in terms of number of samples collected, market share, and types of pasta. Samples were analysed by an accredited HPLC-UV method of analysis. The mean contamination level (64.8 μg/kg) of deoxynivalenol (DON) was in the 95th percentile (239 μg/kg) and 99th percentile (337 μg/kg), far below the legal limit (750 μg/kg) set by Regulation EC/1126/2007, accounting for about one tenth, one third and half the legal limit, respectively. Ninety-nine percent of samples fell below half the legal limit. On the basis of the obtained occurrence levels and considering the consumption rates reported by the Italian official database, no health concern was assessed for all consumer groups, being that exposure was far below the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 1000 ng/kg b.w/day. Nevertheless, despite this, particular attention should be devoted to the exposure to DON by high consumers, such as children aged 3–5 years, who could reach the TDI even with very low levels of DON contamination.

OCHRATOXIN A DETERMINATION IN CURED HAM BY HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY FLUORESCENCE DETECTION AND ULTRA PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that occurs in raw material and in several foods including meat and meat products. Cured ham may be contaminated by OTA directly for Aspergillus and Penicillium attack or indirectly as resulting from the carry-over of contaminated feeds to the edible tissues and organs of pigs. Due to OTA possible carcinogenic activity, the Italian Ministry of Health, took a precautionary measure, and a guideline value of 1 µg/kg of OTA in pork meat and derived products is in place. Analytical validated methods for the detection of OTA in meat products are required in order to comply with the guideline value and to respond to the official control requirements. Two validated methods are proposed, one based on high performance liquid chromatography fluorescence detection and one based on ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The obtained data showed the strengths and also the limits of the two methods in terms of accuracy, limit of detection, and limit of quantification. The goal of this study was to identify the most suitable strategy for OTA determination in cured ham.

Dietary Exposure Assessment of European Population to Mycotoxins: A Review

Abstract In the area of food, risk assessment consists of four elements: hazard identification, hazard characterization, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Exposure assessment and the other elements entail different sources of uncertainty and variability that can affect the reliability of the final output. Among the most relevant tools for exposure assessment studies, deterministic versus probabilistic, total diet versus duplicate studies, and food surveys versus the use of biomarkers in biological fluids constitute approaches most commonly used by researchers. In this chapter, the data available in the literature on assessment of the exposure of the European population to mycotoxins are shown. They reveal that specific groups such as infants and children are the most exposed because of an unfavorable ratio of intake to body weight. In addition, main pros and cons related to occurrence and consumption data are presented with particular emphasis on sampling error and the improper use or incomplete nature of both types of data.