Aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in sorghum grains marketed in Tunisia

Abstract

A total of 64 samples of sorghum (37 Tunisian sorghum samples and 27 Egyptian sorghum samples) were collected during 2011-2012 from markets in Tunisia. Samples were analysed for contamination with aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and zearalenone by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Fluorescence Detection (HPLC-FLD). Aflatoxin B1 was found in 38 samples in the range 0.03-31.7 µg kg. Ochratoxin A was detected in 24 samples with concentrations ranging from 1.04 to 27.8 µg kg. Zearalenone was detected in 21 samples and the concentration varied between 3.7 and 64.5 µg kg. ANOVA analysis of the influence of the country of origin on the incidence and concentration of mycotoxins in the samples studied showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two batches of samples for each of the three mycotoxins studied. The studied mycotoxins contaminate sorghum and may also co-exist because of the diversity of the mycobiota in this cereal.

Dietary Risk Assessment and Consumer Awareness of Mycotoxins among Household Consumers of Cereals, Nuts and Legumes in North-Central Nigeria

“…Similarly, AFB 1 in rice was lower than the level of 60.3 µg/kg previously reported in rice in Nigeria [ 11 ], but 7 times higher than the concentration of 5.84 µg/kg reported in rice from Pakistan [ 29 ]. In addition, the analyzed sorghum samples contained lower mean AFB 1 levels than the concentration of 29.5 µg/kg reported in Ethiopia [ 22 ], but the level was 8–16 times higher than the values of 2.32 µg/kg and 1.24 µg/kg reported in sorghum from Egypt and Tunisia, respectively [ 30 ].…”

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“…9 Other studies that found my cotoxins in various agriculture products such as coffee, grape juice, spices, wines, beer and products of animal origin were reported. 5,[10][11][12][13][14][15] About 25 % of the cereals consumed in the world are contaminated with mycotoxins. 16 The most favourable areas for growing of fungi and therefore high probability to synthetize mycotoxins, are the regions with good weather and high humidity as Michoacán.…”

Implications of Mycotoxins in Food Safety

“…In another study conducted in Somalia, the maximum allowable limits for FUM (FB1 and FB2) and AFB1 were exceeded in the sorghum analysis samples [93]. In a study conducted in Tunisia, in the analyzed sorghum samples, the presence of mycotoxins AFB1, OTA, and ZEN was reported, with values between 0.03-31.7 μg/kg, 1.04-27.8 μg/kg, and 3.75-64, 52 μg/kg, respectively [103].…”