Occurrence of four mycotoxins in cereal and oil products in Yangtze Delta region of China and their food safety risks

A total of 76 cereal and oil products collected from Yangtze Delta region of China were analyzed for occurrences of aflatoxins (AFs), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN). The mycotoxins were determined by the standard detection procedures using immunoaffinity column clean-up coupled with fluorometer (or HPLC-UV). ZEN was the most prevalent toxin, with the incidence of 27.6% (range = 10.0–440.0 μg kg−1), and 9.2% of the evaluated samples were contaminated with a concentration higher than that of the legislation limit of China (60 μg kg−1). AFs and AFB1 were detected in 14.5% of the samples analyzed, the concentrations ranging 1.1–35.0 μg kg−1 for AFs, and 1.0–32.2 μg kg−1 for AFB1; 4.0% of the samples had the concentrations of AFs and AFB1 higher than that of the corresponding legislation limits of China (5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 μg kg−1 for different products). OTA was detected in 14.5% of the cereal and oil products collected; the concentrations ranged 0.51–16.2 μg kg−1. Only 2 samples showed OTA levels higher than that of the legislation limit of China (5.0 μg kg−1). DON was detected in 7.9% of the samples; the concentrations ranged 100–700 μg kg−1, and none of the samples showed DON concentration higher than that of the legislation limit of China (1.0 mg kg−1). A total of 15.8% cereal and oil products were contaminated with at least two mycotoxins (multiple contaminations with different combinations including AFs-ZEN, AFs-OTA-ZEN, OTA-ZEN, ZEN-DON, OTA-ZEN-DON). The dietary exposure assessment results indicated that AFs (AFB1), OTA, DON and ZEN from cereal-based products represented a series health risk to both adults and children in Yangtze Delta region of China. This is the first report of safety evaluation associated with major mycotoxins for the area.