Mycotoxins and Maize Value Chain: Multi-Matrix and Multi-Analyte Tools towards Global Feed and Food Safety

Abstract

Maize value chains represent invaluable end-consumer products in food systems worldwide. Mycotoxin contamination along these chains causes severe economic and health impacts from the plant, animal and human safety points of view. This work aimed to develop a single standardized methodology that fulfilled extraction and detection procedures for 22 mycotoxins in maize chain matrices. The main goal concerned the validation of a QuEChERS-based ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to the tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method in compliance with established performance criteria for mycotoxin determination. Validation parameters encompassing specificity/selectivity, linearity, precision, recovery, Limits of Detection (LOD) and Limits of Quantification (LOQ) were evaluated, and acceptable data were found for all the mycotoxins in the matrices under study, namely, seeds, flowering plants, silage and feed. The applied method presented LODs and LOQs lower than 40.3 and 42.1 ng g−1, respectively, and recoveries ranging from 80.7 to 118.1%, with precision values below 20.5%. A first-time full analytical procedure in a multi-matrix and multi-analyte approach was successfully validated, representing a valuable control tool for mycotoxin monitoring in maize chains. This approach will ultimately allow a response to the need for integrated risk assessments encompassing full, comprehensive analysis of whole food chains in compliance with the maximum levels established in European regulations, and the establishment of accurate solutions in each chain-specific critical point, helping to provide more sustainable, safer and healthy food systems.

Profiling of Volatile Compounds in ‘Muscat Hamburg’ Contaminated with Aspergillus carbonarius before OTA Biosynthesis Based on HS-SPME-GC-MS and DLLME-GC-MS

“…Generally, the recoveries of analytes are influenced by the extraction solvent [36]. ACN has a superior phase separation ability during liquid-liquid partition and salting-out when used for extracting mycotoxins [12,37,38]. The presence of acid in the extraction solvent is crucial for extracting acidic toxins (including OTA), especially formic acid [12].…”

“…It is imperative to perform the clean-up procedure during extraction to enhance the sensitivity, specificity, and purification degree [38,39]. Notably, the selection of the sorbent type is crucial, as it significantly impacts the clean-up procedure [38,39]. C18, PSA, and GCB are commonly used adsorbents for QuEChERS purification [40,41].…”