Occurrence of fumonisins B1 and B2 in corn and corn-based human foodstuffs in Italy. 1994

M B Doko, and A Visconti
Istituto Tossine e Micotossine da Parassiti Vegetali, CNR, Bari, Italy.

A survey has been carried out in Italy on the natural occurrence of fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) in corn kernels from regional distributors and corn genotypes from breeding stations as well as in commercially available corn-based food products. All corn samples were fumonisin positive at levels up to 5310 ng/g for FB1 and up to 1480 for FB2. In corn-based foods, the highest fumonisin contamination levels were recorded in puffed (extruded) corn containing up to 6100 ng/g of FB1 and up to 520 ng/g of FB2. Levels ranging from 420 to 3760 ng/g FB1 and from 80 to 910 ng/g FB2 were detected in corn grits, corn flour or polenta (a sort of thick porridge made with corn flour). All sweet corn samples examined were positive for FB1, at levels varying from 60 to 790 ng/g FB1, but negative for FB2. Lower levels of fumonisins were found in other commodities, such as popcorn (up to 60 ng/g FB1 and 20 ng/g FB2), tortilla chips (up to 60 ng/g FB1 and 10 ng/g FB2), and corn flakes (10 ng/g FB1). These findings indicate a high degree of human exposure to fumonisins in Italy through the ingestion of commercially available corn-based foodstuffs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007558 Italy A country in southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. The capital is Rome. Sardinia
D009183 Mycotoxins Toxic compounds produced by FUNGI. Fungal Toxins,Mycotoxin,Toxins, Fungal
D002274 Carcinogens, Environmental Carcinogenic substances that are found in the environment. Environmental Carcinogens
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
D005670 Fusarium A mitosporic Hypocreales fungal genus, various species of which are important parasitic pathogens of plants and a variety of vertebrates. Teleomorphs include GIBBERELLA. Fusariums
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
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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