Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced mostly by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium. OTA is nephrotoxic in all animal species in which it has been tested and is cancerogenic in rodents. It is associated with Balkan endemic nephropathy. It is naturally present in many crop products such as cereals (barley, wheat, maize) and dried fruits, spices, coffee, wine, olives, and cocoa. The aim of this study was to assess the contamination of three Ivoirian spices with OTA (ginger, chili, and pepper) widely consumed by the population. A total of 90 spice samples (ginger: n = 30; chili: n = 30; pepper n = 30) was taken from various sales outlets of Abidjan. OTA was quantified using an HPLC apparatus coupled with a fluorimetric detector. The chili and ginger samples were contaminated with OTA at a mean concentration of 57.48 ± 174 and 0.12 ± 0.15 μg/kg, respectively. No contamination of the pepper samples was detected. Eight (26.67 %) of the chili samples exceeded the maximum limit of 15 μg/kg established by European regulation. These results should serve as an alert on the risk to the consumer population of these products that are highly contaminated with OTA.
Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced by moulds belonging to the Aspergillus and Penicillium species, and is a common contaminant of various food products. Ochratoxin A is known for its nephrotoxic and carcinogenic effects; protective actions to protect consumer health must be established. The aim of this study was to assess the level of contamination of manufactured coffee and cocoa-based products marketed in Abidjan to estimate ochratoxin A intake related to the consumption of these goods. We quantified ochratoxin A in 87 samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Coffee samples contained an average of 4.0 ± 3.4 µg/kg ochratoxin A and cocoa-based industrial products 0.9 ± 0.6 µg/kg. OTA intakes were assessed using data obtained from the analysis and the estimated Ivorian adult daily consumptions. The average estimated intake for the Ivorian population is 0.15 ng/kg bw/d for coffee and 0.02 ng/kg bw/d for cocoa, lower than the tolerable daily intakes of 5 and 14 ng/kg bw/d, respectively set by the European Commission and World Health Organization. However, in view of the toxicity of OTA, it is imperative to establish legislation on mycotoxin in Côte d'Ivoire
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