0000000000172493
AUTHOR
Angela Vecchio
Ochratoxin A in instant coffee in Italy
Abstract The occurrence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in instant coffee from different brands and types was assessed. The survey covered 44 soluble coffees, 10 of which were decaffeinated, and 6 coffee products; the samples were collected in supermarkets and retail stores of Italy in 2011. The OTA was extracted, cleaned-up by immunoaffinity columns, and detected by HPLC-fluorescence detection. The detection and quantification limits were 0.05 and 0.2 μg/kg, respectively. Recovery, from samples spiked at levels of 0.5, 3.0, and 6.0 μg/kg, was 86.0 ± 7.1%, 91.0 ± 4.2%, and 91.7 ± 5.9% respectively. Forty-eight samples (96%) contained OTA at levels ranging from 0.32 to 6.40 μg/kg, always below the Eur…
Production of cyclopiazonic acid by molds isolated from Taleggio cheese
Twenty-seven strains of Penicillium were isolated from the rind of Taleggio, a typical Italian cheese, so that we could test their capacity to produce cyclopiazonic acid (CPA); all strains produced CPA. The production was strongly influenced by the strain variety and growth conditions. Strains incubated at 25 degrees C for 7 days always produced CPA in mannitol broth, with concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 1 microg/ml, whereas only 33% of strains grown in yeast-extract broth produced CPA, with a maximum value of 0.1 microg/ml. In milk, maximum production (1.6 microg/ml) was observed after 14 days of incubation at 25 degrees C. In order to evaluate the presence of the toxin and its capacit…
Occurrence of aflatoxins in feedstuff, sheep milk and dairy products in Western Sicily
Samples of feedstuffs (15), milk (40), and cheese (30) coming from sheep and dairy farms (23) or market in WesternSicily were analyzed for their respective content of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and M1 (AFM1) to evidence any possible indirectmycotoxin contamination risk to the consumer. Analyses using HPLC and fluorescence detection were performed afterimmunoaffinity column sample extraction and cleanup; AFM1 was detected in 30% of the milk samples at levels rangingfrom 4 to 23 ng/l and in 13% of the cheeses from 21 to 101 ng/kg; in the feed the AFB1 ranged from None of the contaminated samples exceeded the legal limits set down by the European Union for milk (50 ng/l) and feed(5 μg/kg ), or tha…
Microbiological and safety evaluation of green table olives marketed in Italy
The microbiological and safety conditions of green table olives sold on the Italian market were evaluated on 40 samples, 20 loose and 20 packed in containers, purchased at street markets and supermarkets. The olives were analyzed for microflora and food safety indices, and for aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A occurrence, and the results showed acceptable security. There was wide heterogeneity in the microflora, the numerical values being in relation to the olive type. The microbial population was dominated by the yeasts and lactic bacteria responsible for the fermentation process, and their numbers, together with the metabolic activity, led to conditions unfavorable for the development of path…
Roquefortine C occurrence in blue cheese.
Several strains of Penicillium are used for the production of mold-ripened cheeses, and some of them are able to produce mycotoxins. The aims of the research were the determination of roquefortine C and PR toxin in domestic and imported blue cheeses, the identification of the penicillia used as starter, and the investigation of their capacity for producing toxins in culture media. Roquefortine C was always found in the cheeses at levels ranging from 0.05 to 1.47 mg/kg, whereas the PR toxin was never found. The identification of the fungal strains present in the domestic cheeses included Penicillium glabrum, Penicillium roqueforti, and Penicillium cyclopium in the Gorgonzola "dolce" and Peni…