Occurrence of ochratoxin A in bread consumed in Morocco

Abstract One hundred samples of commercial bread purchased from January to October (2006) from retail bakeshops in five different cities (Rabat, Temara, Sale, Casablanca and Meknes) in Morocco were surveyed for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) using liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection. The identification of OTA in positive bread samples was confirmed by methyl ester derivatization. Analytical results showed that forty eight (48%) samples were positive with OTA greater than the limit of quantification (LOQ = 0.051 ng/g). Levels of OTA in positive samples ranged between 0.14 and 149 ng/g. The average contamination of bread samples with OTA was 13 ± 1.5 ng/g. The highest …

Aflatoxins levels in dried fruits and nuts from Rabat-Salé area, Morocco

Abstract The occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs) in dried fruits and nuts available in Rabat-Sale area (Morocco) was surveyed in this study. One hundred samples of dried fruits and nuts, purchased from retail shops and local markets from January to October 2006, were analyzed for AFs content by immunoaffinity (IAC) clean-up with liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. Results showed that the incidences of total aflatoxins (AFT) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in peanut, dried raisins, dried figs, walnut, and pistachio were 5%, 20%, 30%, 30% and 45% and 5%, 20%, 5%, 30% and 45%, respectively. The highest contamination levels of AFB1 were found in one walnut sample (2500 μg/kg) and one pistachio…

Multi-mycotoxin contamination of green tea infusion and dietary exposure assessment in Moroccan population

Green tea infusion is one of the most widely drunk beverages worldwide due to its health benefits associated with microelements, essential oils, and polyphenols, etc. Several studies have reported that green tea is subjected to contamination by various toxigenic fungi. Thus, this work aims to investigate the co-occurrence of 15 mycotoxins [four aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), beauvericin (BEA), four enniatins (ENA, ENA1, ENB, ENB1), zearalenone (ZEN), alternariol (AOH), tentoxin (TENT), T-2 and HT-2 toxins] in green tea samples available in Morocco by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. Analytical and consumption data were then used to assess the …

Incidence of ochratoxin A in rice and dried fruits from Rabat and Salé area, Morocco.

One hundred samples of dried fruits (20 dried raisins, 20 walnuts, 20 peanuts, 20 dried figs and 20 pistachios) and 20 samples of rice purchased from retail shops in the Rabat and Salé area in Morocco were analysed for ochratoxin A (OTA) by immunoaffinity clean-up (IAC) and liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection. The limit of quantification (LOQ) (S/N = 10:1) of OTA was 0.02 ng g(-1) in rice, 0.03 ng g(-1) in pistachio, peanut and walnut, and 0.03 ng g(-1) in dried raisins and dried figs. The incidences of occurrence of OTA in dried raisins, walnuts, peanuts, dried figs and rice were 30, 35, 25, 65 and 90%, respectively. Analytical results showed that pistachio samples conta…

Ochratoxin A in rice on the Moroccan retail market

One hundred (100) samples of rice purchased from retail markets in five different cities (Rabat, Témara, Salé, Casablanca and Méknès) in Morocco from January to October 2006 were surveyed for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) coupled to liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The identification of OTA in positive rice samples was confirmed by methyl ester derivatization. Analytical results showed a frequency of contamination of 26% of total analyzed rice samples. The percentage of contamination of samples was 24, 26.6, 16.6, 27.7 and 30% in Rabat, Témara, Méknès, Salé and Casablanca respectively. Levels of OTA in positive samples ranged…

First report on the presence of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins enniatins (A, A1, B, B1), beauvericin and fusaproliferin in rice on the Moroccan retail markets

Seventy samples of rice purchased from local markets in six cities from Morocco (Rabat, Casablanca, Kenitra, Mohammadia, Tanger and Errachidia) were analyzed for the presence of six emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile/water (85/15, v/v) by using an ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified with liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to diode array detector (DAD). Positive samples were confirmed with an LC-MS/MS. Analytical results showed that BEA was present in 75.7% of total analyzed samples. BEA levels varied between 3.8 and 26.3 mg/kg…

Simultaneous determination of Fusarium mycotoxins in wheat grain from Morocco by liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Abstract In the present study, eighteen (18) mycotoxin produced by the genus Fusarium (fumonisins (FB1, FB2 and FB3), type-B trichothecenes (NIV, DON, FUS-X, 3Ac-DON and 15Ac-DON), type-A trichothecenes (NEO, DAS, T2 and HT2), zearalenone (ZEA), beauvericin (BEA), and enniatins (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1)) were monitored in different samples of wheat grain commercialized in Morocco. A liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method previous matrix solid phase dispersion extraction was used for sample analysis. A total of eighty (80) samples of durum wheat were collected in different local markets from several areas in Morocco. Analytical results showed that 54 out …

Occurrence of Free and Conjugated Mycotoxins in Aromatic and Medicinal Plants and Dietary Exposure Assessment in the Moroccan Population.

Aromatic and medicinal plants (AMPs), as herbal material, are subjected to contamination by various mycotoxin-producing fungi, either free and conjugated. Such a problem is associated with poor storage practices, and lack of adopting good agricultural practices and good harvesting practices. Nevertheless, AMPs are poorly investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the co-occurrence of 15 mycotoxins (four aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), beauvericin (BEA), four enniatins (ENA, ENA1, ENB, and ENB1), zearalenone (ZEN), alternariol (AOH), tentoxin (TENT), T-2, and HT-2 toxins) in 40 samples of AMPs frequently consumed in Morocco by using liquid chromat…

Multi-mycotoxin analysis in North African semolina samples using a modified QuEChERS-based extraction procedure and HPLC–MS/MS

Multi-mycotoxin contamination of couscous semolina commercialized in Morocco.

The multi-mycotoxin contamination of ninety-eight (98) couscous semolina samples collected from various areas in Morocco was investigated in this study. Samples were surveyed for the presence of 22 mycotoxins (four aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, diacetoxiscyrpenol (DAS), three fumonisins, beauvericin (BEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON), 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON), nivalenol (NIV), sterigmatocystin (STG), zearalenone (ZEA), four enniatins, T-2 and HT-2 toxins). Results showed that 96 out of 98 total couscous samples (98%) were contaminated by at least one mycotoxin. Enniatin B (ENB), Enniatin B1 (ENB1), Enniatin A1 (ENA1) and zearalenone (ZEA) have shown the high…

Presence of aflatoxin M1 in pasteurized milk from Morocco

Fifty four samples of pasteurized milk produced by five different dairies from Morocco were surveyed for the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) using immunoaffinity columns and liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection. Confirmation of AFM1 identity in positive samples was based on the formation of AFM1 hemi-acetal derivative (AFM2a) after derivatization with trifluoracetic acid. Analytical results showed that 88.8% of the samples were contaminated with AFM1; 7.4% being above the maximum level of 0.05 microg/L set by the Moroccan and European regulations for AFM1 in liquid milk. The incidence of AFM1 in milk from these dairies was 100, 92.3, 90, 83.3 and 77.7% respectively, with …

Further data on the occurrence of Fusarium emerging mycotoxins enniatins (A, A1, B, B1), fusaproliferin and beauvericin in raw cereals commercialized in Morocco

Abstract In this study, 64 samples of raw cereals (wheat, maize and barley) purchased from local markets in Rabat–Sale area from Morocco were analyzed for the occurrence of six emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of water/acetonitrile (85/15, v/v) by using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified with a liquid chromatography (LC) with diode array detector (DAD). Positive samples were confirmed with an LC–MS/MS. Analytical results showed that the frequencies of contamination of total samples with ENs, BEA and FUS were 50, 26.5 and 7.8%, respectiv…

Further data on the levels of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins enniatins (A, A1, B, B1), beauvericin and fusaproliferin in breakfast and infant cereals from Morocco

Abstract Sixty-eight samples of cereals products, including breakfast cereals ( n  = 48) and infant cereals ( n  = 20), purchased from supermarkets and pharmacies in Rabat-Sale area from Morocco were analysed for the determination of six emerging mycotoxins: four enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile:water (85:15, v/v), using an Ultra-Turrax® homogeniser. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified by liquid chromatography (LC) with diode array detection (DAD). Positive samples were confirmed by LC–MS/MS. Analytical results showed that the percentages of analysed samples contaminated with…

Limited survey for the occurrence of aflatoxins in cereals and poultry feeds from Rabat, Morocco

Fifty eight (58) samples of cereals for human consumption (20 corn flour, 17 wheat flour) and poultry feeds (n=21) purchased from popular markets of Rabat in Morocco were analyzed for aflatoxins (AF) by HPLC with immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up and fluorimetric detection. The incidence of AF in corn, wheat flour and poultry feeds was about 80, 17.6 and 66.6% respectively. High contamination levels were found in corn and poultry feeds samples. Levels of contamination of analyzed samples with AFB1 ranged from 0.23 to 11.2, 0.03 to 0.15 and 0.05 to 5.38 ng/g for corn, wheat and poultry feeds respectively. Results showed also that the contamination of 10% of samples of corn was higher than…

Pressurized liquid extraction coupled to liquid chromatography for the analysis of ochratoxin A in breakfast and infants cereals from Morocco

Abstract A sensitive and reliable method using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and liquid chromatography (LC) has been developed for the analysis of ochratoxin A (OTA) in breakfast and infants cereals. Influence of several extraction solvents that affect PLE efficiency was studied. The selected PLE operating method was: 10 g of sample was packed into 22 ml stainless-steel cell and OTA was extracted with acetonitrile/water (80:20) at 40 °C, 34 atm in one cycle of 5 min at 60% flush. The mean recovery of OTA was 82 ± 4 at fortification level of 3 ng/g OTA. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of OTA was 0.25 ng/g. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of 68 samples of …

Review on the toxicity, occurrence, metabolism, detoxification, regulations and intake of zearalenone: An oestrogenic mycotoxin

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced mainly by fungi belonging to the genus Fusarium in foods and feeds. It is frequently implicated in reproductive disorders of farm animals and occasionally in hyperoestrogenic syndromes in humans. There is evidence that ZEA and its metabolites possess oestrogenic activity in pigs, cattle and sheep. However, ZEA is of a relatively low acute toxicity after oral or interperitoneal administration in mice, rat and pig. The biotransformation for ZEA in animals involves the formation of two metabolites alpha-zearalenol (alpha-ZEA) and beta-zearalenol (beta-ZEA) which are subsequently conjugated with glucuronic acid. Moreover, ZEA has also been shown to be h…

Multi-occurrence of twenty mycotoxinsin pasta and a risk assessment in the moroccan population

In the present study, the multi-occurrence of twenty (20) mycotoxins in pasta samples consumed in Morocco was assessed. For this, a modified Quick, Easy, Cheap Effective, Rugged, and Safe method was validated. The mycotoxins studied were identified and quantified by liquid chromatography&ndash

Occurrence and legislation of mycotoxins in food and feed from Morocco

Mycotoxins are natural food and feed contaminants, mainly produced by moulds of genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. The number of mycotoxins known to exert toxic effect on human and animal health is constantly increasing as well as the legislative provisions taken to control their presence in food and feed. Morocco, a North African country, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, has a climate characterized by high humidity and high temperature which favor growth of moulds. This paper gives an overview about the contamination levels and the occurrence of some mycotoxins (e.g. aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and Fusarium toxins) in cereals, bread, milk, spices, wine, oliv…

Further data on the presence of Fusarium emerging mycotoxins enniatins, fusaproliferin and beauvericin in cereals available on the Spanish markets.

In this work, 64 samples of cereals purchased from local markets in the Valencian community (Spain) were investigated for the presence of six emerging mycotoxins: enniatins ENs (ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FUS). Samples were extracted with a mixture of water/acetonitrile (85/15, v/v) by using an Ultra-turrax homogenizer. Mycotoxins were then identified and quantified with a liquid chromatography (LC) with diode array detector (DAD). Positive samples were confirmed with an LC-MS/MS. Analytical Results showed that the frequencies of contamination of samples with ENs, BEA and FUS were 73.4%, 32.8% and 7.8%, respectively. ENA1 was the most mycotoxin found and…