Occurrence of ochratoxin A in wines in the Argentinean and Chilean markets

Abstract

Wine contaminated with ochratoxin A (OTA) has been reported all over the world. Sixty-eight wine samples were analysed to assess OTA wine contamination in various regions of Argentina and Chile. In addition, some imported wines were analysed. Wine samples were collected at manufacturers' stock and retail markets in Argentina in 2003 and Chile in 2002. A highperformance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection and two different immunoaffinity clean-up columns were employed, with recoveries higher than 90% (Argentina: LOD:0.008 µg/l, LOQ:0.015 µg/l; Chile: LOD:0.012 µg/l, LOQ: 0.04 µg/l). None of the analysed wines produced in Argentina or Chile were contaminated. The presence of OTA in wines would appear to be a lesser problem in Argentina and Chile than in other countries, but it still could contribute to OTA exposure of human populations and more studies of the occurrence of OTA in wine should be done.