Fumonisins and deoxynivalenol in corn-based food products in Portugal. 2008

H Marina Martins, and I Almeida, and M F Marques, and M M Guerra
INRB, I.P., Laboratório Nacional de Investigação Veterinária, Serviço de Micologia, Estrada de Benfica 701, 1549-011 Lisboa, Portugal. marina.martins@lniv.min-agricultura.pt

A great diversity of crops is vulnerable to fungal attack and might be contaminated with mycotoxins. Currently it is estimated that 25% of the world's harvest production is contaminated to some level with these toxins. The presence of fumonisins and deoxynivalenol in corn-based foods, available in Portugal, was analyzed in order to produce some data that may be useful for hazard characterization. A total of 105 samples were screened, including, corn meal (41), sweet corn (49) and corn flakes (15). None of the 15 samples of corn flakes contained some detectable amount of fumonisins. However, fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fumonisin B2 (FB2) contamination was found in 100.0% and 70.7% of the corn meal samples, respectively. Sweet corn samples were positive in 73.4% for FB1, although no FB2 was detected. The highest levels of fumonisin were found in corn meal (maximum: 1300 microg FB1/kg and 450 microg FB2/kg). The presence of deoxynivalenol was not detected in any of the analyzed samples. Nevertheless these results indicate the need to establish, by corn products manufacturers, a continuous monitoring program to prevent and manage the occurrence of these contaminants.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011174 Portugal A country in southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain. The capital is Lisbon. Madeira Island,Portuguese Republic
D003257 Consumer Product Safety The sum total of measures taken and regulatory policies enacted to ensure the safe use of consumer products. Safety, Consumer Product,Product Approval,Product Approvals,Product Safety, Consumer
D003313 Zea mays A plant species of the family POACEAE. It is a tall grass grown for its EDIBLE GRAIN, corn, used as food and animal FODDER. Corn,Indian Corn,Maize,Teosinte,Zea,Corn, Indian
D005506 Food Contamination The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage. Food Adulteration,Adulteration, Food,Adulterations, Food,Contamination, Food,Contaminations, Food,Food Adulterations,Food Contaminations
D005511 Food Handling Any aspect of the operations in the preparation, processing, transport, storage, packaging, wrapping, exposure for sale, service, or delivery of food. Food Processing,Handling, Food,Processing, Food
D014255 Trichothecenes Usually 12,13-epoxytrichothecenes, produced by Fusaria, Stachybotrys, Trichoderma and other fungi, and some higher plants. They may contaminate food or feed grains, induce emesis and hemorrhage in lungs and brain, and damage bone marrow due to protein and DNA synthesis inhibition. Epoxytrichothecenes,Trichothecene Epoxides,Epoxides, Trichothecene
D037341 Fumonisins A group of MYCOTOXINS found in CORN contaminated with FUSARIUM fungus. They are chains of about 20 carbons with acidic ester, acetylamino and sometimes other substituents. They inhibit ceramide synthetase conversion of SPHINGOLIPIDS to CERAMIDES. Fumonisin

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