Risk assessment of buckwheat flour contaminated by thorn-apple (Datura stramoniumL.) alkaloids: a case study from Slovenia

Abstract

In Slovenia, a mass poisoning incident involving 73 consumers with symptoms such as dry mouth, hot red skin, blurred vision, tachycardia, urinary retention, ataxia, speech disturbance, disorientation and visual hallucinations occurred in 2003. In all cases, consumers had eaten buckwheat flour food products within the last few hours. Investigations by responsible authorities identified the contamination of a range of buckwheat food products with thorn-apple (Datura stramonium L.) seeds containing toxic alkaloids, atropine and scopolamine. To ensure the safe consumption of buckwheat food products, we carried out risk characterisation and proposed provisional maximum residue levels (MRLs) of atropine and scopolamine mixture in buckwheat flour. In the absence of critical "no observed adverse effect levels" for atropine and scopolamine, we based our estimation of the acute reference doses on the lowest recommended therapeutic doses. Taking into account the additive effect of the two alkaloids, we calculated acute reference doses of the mixture, that is 0.05 µg/kg of body mass for atropine and 0.03 µg/kg of body mass for scopolamine. MRLs for atropine and scopolamine mixture in buckwheat flour were estimated in a worst-case scenario, that is consumption of 100 g of flour by a child weighing 10 kg and taking into account a range of atropine/scopolamine ratio in implicated food products, that is 0.85-3.3. We proposed the national MRLs for atropine/scopolamine mixture in buckwheat food products: 4.0 µg/kg (atropine) and 2.0 µg/kg(scopolamine). However, in view of the large variability in the alkaloid content, depending on the origin of the Datura, we propose that risk assessment should be carried out on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the ratio between atropine and scopolamine content in a particular sample.

Intra- and inter-laboratory validation of a dipstick immunoassay for the detection of tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine in animal feed

“…Recently, Perharič et al (2013) reported the presence of substantial amounts of hyoscyamine/atropine and scopolamine in buckwheat flour and buckwheat products collected in retail outlets in Slovenia. Of the 79 samples analysed, 18 contained TAs above the LOQ (30 µg kg -1 ) of the LC-MS/MS method used.…”

Scientific Opinion on Tropane alkaloids in food and feed

“…Perharič et al (2013b) reported on the analysis of 75 samples of buckwheat grain and buckwheat food products collected from millers and food shops throughout Slovenia. The survey was conducted following food poisoning incidents in 2003 which affected 73 consumers of buckwheat-based food products.…”

“…As the biosynthesis of these TAs leads to (-)-hyoscyamine and (-)-scopolamine and no stereoselective separation is achieved in this work, analytical results are thus regarded as 100 % (-)-hyoscyamine or (-)-scopolamine. The exposure assessment was part of the risk assessment of buckwheat flour contaminated by thorn apple (D. stramonium) alkaloids carried out in Slovenia after a poisoning incident involving 73 consumers of buckwheat products (Perharič et al, 2013b). The exposure assessment included food samples involved in the outbreak, and it focused on those consumers affected by the poisoning and not on the general population.…”

“…The LOD for (-)-hyoscyamine and (-)-scopolamine ranged from 3-5 μg/kg and the LOQ from 10-15 μg/kg. Perharič et al (2013b) used HPLC-MS/MS for the determination of (-)-hyoscyamine and (-)-scopolamine in buckwheat products. The samples were extracted with dichloromethane/methanol/ammonium hydroxide (70:25:5, v:v:v) and subsequently were concentrated.…”

“…In a study on the effects of ingestion of low doses of atropine and (-)-scopolamine present as contaminants in food, Perharič et al (2013b) prepared a traditional Slovenian dish, žganci. Atropine and (-)-scopolamine were added as standards in a 2:1 ratio to the buckwheat flour (atropine was added in the range of 0.25-25 mg/kg and (-)-scopolamine was added in the range of 0.125-12.5 mg/kg).…”