Occurrence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in wines: influence of the type of wine and its geographical origin

Abstract

The results of more than 450 samples taken from the literature and 400 samples tested by our own investigations have been taken into account to quite extensively describe the situation of OTA contamination of wine. According to these data OTA is much more commonly detected in red wines than in rosé and white wines and the OTA concentration is remarkably higher than in the last two. Thus OTA could be detected in 25% of white wine samples whereas it was detected in 40% of rosé and 54% of red wine samples. The same result was found when comparing the wines from southern and northern regions. Here the red wine samples from the northern cultivating area showed a contamination of 12% in contrast to those from the southern area which showed a contamination of about 95%.

Levels of ochratoxins in Mediterranean red wines

“…This mean is similar to that described by Burdaspal & Legarda (1999) and Quintela, Villarán, López de Armentia & Elejalde (2011) in Spanish red wines (38 and 37 ng·L -1 , respectively). The median value seems to be similar than other works, although these described higher maximum levels (López de (Otteneder & Majerus, 2000); or higher: 225 ng·L -1 (Burdaspal & Legarda, 1999).…”

“…Some authors have stated that South Europe red wines are more contaminated with this mycotoxin than those produced in northern regions, due to the warmest climatic conditions (Brera et al, 2008, Otteneder & Majerus, 2000. However, the SCOOP report and the European Food Safety Authority pointed out that the mean OTA concentrations seem to be quite close together and that no systematic differences between countries could be found (EFSA, 2006).…”

“…Some studies have concluded that wines from the Southern European countries are more susceptible to contamination by ochratoxin A due to the warm and Mediterranean climate (Brera et al, 2008, Otteneder & Majerus, 2000.…”

Quantification of ochratoxin A and five analogs in Navarra red wines

“…In general, they had a positive association with temperatures and they were inversely related with humidity and rainfall. This coincides with the fact that frequency and OTA concentration are higher in southern and warmer regions (Brera et al, 2008, Mateo, Medina, Mateo, Mateo & Jimenez, 2007, Otteneder & Majerus, 2000.…”

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

“…22,23 With the goal of confirming the presence of OTA in wine, we also analysed imported wines from European regions in which contamination had been found. 6,8,13,14 Figure 1 shows the chromatograms obtained from an imported wine sample naturally contaminated with OTA (a) and the OTA methyl ester derivative (b). The mean intake for those years was 121.34 kg year per capita for European countries, 76.06 kg year per capita for Argentina and 44.03 kg year per capita for Chile.…”