Assessment of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in breakfast cereals

•About 41% samples of breakfast cereal were found contaminated with AFs.•About 16% samples were found to be above the EU recommended level for AFB1.•However, 30% samples were found to be above the EU recommend limit for OTA.•About 8% samples were found above the permissible limit of EU for ZEN.•The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Food chemistry 2014-08, Vol.157, p.257-262
Main Authors: Iqbal, Shahzad Zafar, Rabbani, Tehmeena, Asi, Muhammad Rafique, Jinap, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aflatoxins
Aflatoxins - analysis
Aflatoxins - chemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Breakfast cereals
Food Contamination - analysis
Food toxicology
Medical sciences
Mycotoxins
Ochratoxin A
Ochratoxins - chemistry
Plant poisons toxicology
Toxicology
Triticum - chemistry
Zearalenone
Zearalenone - analysis
Zearalenone - chemistry
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Summary:•About 41% samples of breakfast cereal were found contaminated with AFs.•About 16% samples were found to be above the EU recommended level for AFB1.•However, 30% samples were found to be above the EU recommend limit for OTA.•About 8% samples were found above the permissible limit of EU for ZEN.•The contamination level in these products may pose health hazards. Aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEN) were analysed in 237 breakfast cereal samples collected from central areas of Punjab, Pakistan. According to the results, 41% of the samples were found contaminated with AFs, out of which 16% and 8% samples were found to be above the European Union (EU) maximum content for AFB1 and total AFs, respectively. About 48% samples were found contaminated with OTA and 30% samples were found to be above the EU maximum content. The results have shown that 53% samples of breakfast cereals were found contaminated with ZEN and 8% samples were found to be above the permissible limit of EU. The highest mean level of AFB1 and total AFs were found in semolina i.e. 3.60 and 4.55μg/kg, respectively. Similarly, semolina was the highest contaminated breakfast cereal for OTA (3.90μg/kg), while cornflakes (brand B) was found highest contaminated with ZEN (13.45μg/kg).
ISSN:0308-8146
1873-7072
DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.01.129