Ochratoxin A Concentrations in a Variety of Grain-Based and Non–Grain-Based Foods on the Canadian Retail Market from 2009 to 2014

ABSTRACT The extent of ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination of domestically produced foods sold across Canada was determined from 2009 to 2014 with sampling and testing occurring each fiscal year. Cereal-based, fruit-based, and soy-based food samples (n = 6,857) were analyzed. Almost half of the samples (3,200; 47%) did not contain detectable concentrations of OTA. The remaining 3,657 samples contained OTA at 0.040 to 631 ng/g. Wheat, oats, milled products of other grains (such as rye and buckwheat), and to a lesser extent corn products and their derived foods were the most significant potential sources of OTA exposure for the Canadian population. Wine, grape juice, soy products, beer, dairy-based infant formula, and licorice candy were not significant contributors to OTA consumption. Spices had the highest OTA concentrations; but because so little is ingested, these foods are not considered to be a significant source of OTA. In contrast, infant formulas and cereals can be important dietary sources of OTA. Infant cereals containing oats and infant formulas containing soy had detectable concentrations of OTA, some of which exceeded the proposed Canadian guidelines. The prevalence and concentrations of OTA in major crops (wheat, corn, and oats) varied widely across years. Because these foods were purchased at retail stores, no information was available on the OTA concentrations in the raw materials, the storage conditions before purchase of the samples, or the origin of the ingredients (may include blends of raw materials from different years and/or different geographical regions of Canada); therefore, impact of these factors could not be assessed. Overall, 2.3% of the samples exceeded the proposed Canadian OTA regulatory limits and 2.7% exceeded the current European Union (EU) OTA regulatory limits. These results are consistent with a Health Canada exposure assessment published in 2010, despite the inclusion of a wider range of products and confirm the safety of foods widely available across Canada.

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Identification of Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in Selected Imported Pet Food

Journal of Bioresource Management ◽

10.35691/jbm.5102.0014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Iffat Tahira ◽

Nighat Sultana ◽

Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif

Keyword(s):

European Commission ◽

Ochratoxin A ◽

Food Samples ◽

Solid Food ◽

Chromatographic Technique ◽

Pet Food ◽

Regulatory Limits ◽

Semi Solid ◽

Aflatoxin B2 ◽

Natural Incidence

The current study was conducted to analyze the aflatoxins (AF i.e. AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 AFG2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in imported pet food. A total of five hundred and ten commercially available imported pet food samples of cat (solid = 240, semi-solid = 90) and dog (solid = 150, semi-solid = 30) were collected from retailers and analyzed by chromatographic technique i.e. HPTLC. Results revealed 45.83% (mean, 3.90 ppb) and 18% (mean, 4.83 ppb) of AFB1 incidence in solid pet foods of cats and dogs, respectively. However, lower levels i.e. 8.88% (mean, 4.60ppb) and 6.66% (mean, 2.80ppb) of AFB1 were observed for semi-solid food samples of cat and dog, respectively. Aflatoxin B2 was found in solid cat food only with an incidence of 12.5% (mean, 0.89 ppb). About 35.33% (mean, 4.5 ppb) and 26.66% (mean, 2 ppb) of OTA were observed in solid and semi-solid dog foods respectively. Similarly, the trend of OTA in cat foods was 15% (mean, 3.87 ppb) and 13.13% (mean, 1.0 ppb) for solid and semisolid foods. Furthermore, co-contamination of AF and OTA were observed in 33.33% and 41.60% samples of dog and cat foods, respectively. It was concluded that natural incidence of mean contaminations was below than European Commission (EC) legislation i.e. 20 ppb and 10 ppb for AF and OTA, respectively. However, co-occurrence of mycotoxins in pet food may exert synergistic deleterious effects even at levels far below the regulatory limits.

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Impact of Food Processing and Storage Conditions on Nitrate Content in Canned Vegetable–Based Infant Foods

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-72.8.1764 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 72 (8) ◽

pp. 1764-1768 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

T. TAMME ◽

M. REINIK ◽

M. ROASTO ◽

K. MEREMÄE ◽

A. KIIS

Keyword(s):

Raw Materials ◽

Nitrate Concentration ◽

Storage Conditions ◽

Food Samples ◽

Nitrate Content ◽

Infant Food ◽

Industrial Processing ◽

Infant Foods ◽

Nitrate And Nitrite ◽

Nitrite Content

The nitrate and nitrite contents were determined in canned vegetable–based infant foods of five varieties. Furthermore, changes in nitrate content during industrial processing were studied. Samples were taken from raw materials, homogenized mixtures, and final products after sterilization, and then analyzed for nitrate and nitrite content by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Processing steps preceding heat treatment, such as vegetable peeling and washing, decreased the nitrate concentrations in the range of 17 to 52%. During processing, the nitrate content in canned infant foods decreased 39 to 50%, compared with nitrate concentration in the raw-vegetable mixture. The final nitrate concentration in infant foods depends mainly on the initial nitrate content of the raw-vegetable mixture. The effect of storage time (24 and 48 h) and temperature (4 to 6°C and 20 to 22°C) on nitrate and nitrite content in opened canned infant-food samples was studied. After 24 h of storage at refrigerated and room temperatures, the mean nitrate content increased on average by 7 and 13%, and after 48 h of storage by 15 and 29%, respectively. The nitrite content in all analyzed samples was below the quantification limit. Storage requirements of industrial manufacturers must be followed strictly. Opened can foods, stored under refrigerated conditions, have to be consumed within 2 days, as recommended by manufacturers. The infant-food producers must pay more attention to the quality of raw materials. Nitrate content analyses should be added as compulsory tests to the quality assurance programs.

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Mycobiota of Czech wine grapes and occurrence of ochratoxin A and Alternaria mycotoxins in fresh grape juice, must and wine.

Czech Mycology ◽

10.33585/cmy.59210 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 241-254 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Vladimír Ostrý ◽

Jarmila Škarková ◽

Ivana Procházková ◽

Alena Kubátová ◽

František Malíř ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ochratoxin A ◽

Grape Juice ◽

Wine Grapes ◽

Alternaria Mycotoxins

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Comparison of Flow Injection-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS for the Determination of Ochratoxin A

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins13080547 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 547

Author(s):

Kai Zhang

Keyword(s):

Ochratoxin A ◽

Flow Injection ◽

Internal Standard ◽

Grape Juice ◽

Tandem Mass ◽

Triple Quadrupole ◽

On Line ◽

Red Grape Juice ◽

Red Grape

Two methods for measuring ochratoxin A in corn, oat, and grape juice were developed and compared. Flow injection (FI) and on-line liquid chromatography (LC) performances were evaluated separately, with both methods using a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS) for quantitation. Samples were fortified with 13C uniformly labeled ochratoxin A as the internal standard (13C-IS) and prepared by dilution and filtration, followed by FI- and LC-MS/MS analysis. For the LC-MS/MS method, which had a 10 min run time/sample, recoveries of ochratoxin A fortified at 1, 5, 20, and 100 ppb in corn, oat, red grape juice, and white grape juice ranged from 100% to 117% with RSDs < 9%. The analysis time of the FI-MS/MS method was <60 s/sample, however, the method could not detect ochratoxin A at the lowest fortification concentration, 1 ppb, in all tested matrix sources. At 5, 20, and 100 ppb, recoveries by FI-MS/MS ranged from 79 to 117% with RSDs < 15%. The FI-MS/MS method also had ~5× higher solvent and matrix-dependent instrument detection limits (0.12–0.35 ppb) compared to the LC-MS/MS method (0.02–0.06 ppb). In the analysis of incurred corn and oat samples, both methods generated comparable results within ±20% of reference values, however, the FI-MS/MS method failed to determine ochratoxin A in two incurred wheat flour samples due to co-eluted interferences due to the lack of chromatographic separation.

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Influence of microbiological biofilm on the technological process of sugar production

FOOD RESOURCES ◽

10.31073/foodresources2021-16-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (16) ◽

pp. 221-228

Author(s):

Tamila Sheiko ◽

Keyword(s):

Technological Process ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Sugar Industry ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Storage Conditions ◽

Metal Corrosion ◽

Comparative Characteristic ◽

Sugar Production ◽

Microbial Biofilms ◽

Yield And Quality

During the processing of frozen and thawed sugar beets, invert sugar, in particular glucose and fructose, accumulates in them. This is due to the process of hydrolysis of carbohydrates. As a result of temperature fluctuations, beets lose elasticity, and tissue walls become soft. The activity of microorganisms intensifies on damaged beets. In the sugar industry, harmful microorganisms enter the production with raw materials, water, unwashed soil and air. Under improper storage conditions of raw materials the rapid development of microorganisms begins leading to sugar loss. The microflora of raw materials in sugar production is due to spore-forming and non-spore-forming bacteria, as well as micromycetes. Processing in the production of such raw materials is complicated. This leads to non-rhythmic operation of the sugar factory, technological processes and metal corrosion of technological equipment. Sugar yield and quality are significantly reduced. An important factor is the protection from the formation of microbial biofilms. The article considers the problem of formation of microbial biofilm in the process of obtaining diffusion juice in the sugar industry. The structure of the biofilm and its stability over time are considered. Under the conditions of active biofilm formation, uncontrolled unaccounted losses of sucrose are observed. Under conditions of low-quality beet processing, biocides and enzymes must be used in the production. They reduce the contamination of intermediate products by microorganisms, greatly facilitate the technological process. They also allow you to predict unaccounted sugar losses and improve its quality and yield. The article considers the effect of different types of biocides on dextran, which is an example of the formation of microbial biofilms. The comparative characteristic of influence of biocides on dextran is given and their resistance is noted.

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THE INFLUENCE OF THE STORAGE CONDITIONS OF RAW MATERIALS ON THE PRESERVATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF THE FUR SEMI-FINISHED PRODUCT

Technologies & Quality ◽

10.34216/2587-6147-2021-3-53-52-58 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 52-58

Author(s):

Natalya P. Bodryakova

Keyword(s):

Elevated Temperature ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Storage Conditions ◽

Strength Properties ◽

Biological Factor ◽

Point Scale ◽

Complex Characteristic ◽

Characteristic Features ◽

The Stability

This article deals with the problem of preserving the properties of a semi-finished fur product under the influence of a biological factor during the storage of raw materials. The characteristic features of the biodegradation of untreated rabbit skins during storage at elevated temperature and relative humidity are identified and described. A complex characteristic of a semi-finished fur product developed from raw materials of various degrees of microbiological spoilage is given. The author offers a point scale of assessment dynamics of the processes of destruction of fur raw materials and a point assessment of the organoleptic indicators of the semi-finished product was developed. As a result of comprehensive studies, it was found that the degree of damage to the fur raw materials being processed affects the decrease in the stability of the structure and strength properties of the finished semi-finished product.

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QUANTITATIVE ACCOUNT AND DIFFERENTIAL PROPERTIES OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA ALLOCATED FROM FOOD RAW MATERIALS

Problems of Veterinary Sanitation, Hygiene and Ecology ◽

10.36871/vet.san.hyg.ecol.202002017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 228-235

Author(s):

E.M. Lenchenko ◽

◽

D.V. Stepanov ◽

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Food Samples ◽

Labor Costs ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Anaerobic Microorganisms ◽

Microbial Cultures ◽

Colony Counting ◽

Quantitative Indicators ◽

Differential Properties

The results of microbiological studies of generally accepted research methods and analysis studies for accelerated calculation the amount of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms isolated from food raw materials are presented. Optimization of sample preparation for research and elimination of routine stages of colony counting significantly increases the number of performed analyzes, saves research time and material costs. Due to the simplicity of operations and a minimum of manual labor,productivity and security are increased, labor costs of staff time are reduced, subjective factors are excluded. The advantages are also in quantitative indicators of the total number of yeast and molds in the studied samples within 72 hours, whereas in the generally accepted method, the indicators are presented only after 5 days. A quantitative analysis of microorganisms of food samples (n = 82) revealed a mismatch of microbiological safety indicators, excess QMAFAnM: 23 (28,0%) samples food raw materials, of which 11 beef samples (47,2%); meat of offal and semi-finished poultry – 12 (20,3%). Based on a comparative assessment of growth-supporting and selective properties, effective diagnostic environments and test systems for differentiating similar types of microorganisms have been tested and selected. From the number of isolates allocated from food raw materials (n = 122), 36 microbial cultures were identified: Salmonella spp. – 10 (13,1%) microbial cultures; coliforms – 25 (24,3%); Listeria monocytogenes – 1 (1,3%).

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Occurrence of Fungi and Fungal Toxins in Fish Feed during Storage

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins12030171 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 171

Author(s):

Constanze Pietsch ◽

Georg Müller ◽

Sulayman Mourabit ◽

Simon Carnal ◽

Kasun Bandara

Keyword(s):

Relative Humidity ◽

Ochratoxin A ◽

Short Duration ◽

Storage Conditions ◽

Fish Feed ◽

Fungal Contamination ◽

Commercial Fish ◽

Fungal Toxins ◽

Fish Feeds

Periods of unfavorable storing conditions can lead to changes in the quality of fish feeds, as well as the development of relevant mycotoxins. In the present study, a commercial fish feed was stored under defined conditions for four weeks. The main findings indicate that even storing fish feeds under unsuitable conditions for a short duration leads to a deterioration in quality. Mycotoxin and fungal contamination were subsequently analyzed. These investigations confirmed that different storage conditions can influence the presence of fungi and mycotoxins on fish feed. Notably, ochratoxin A (OTA) was found in samples after warm (25 °C) and humid (>60% relative humidity) treatment. This confirms the importance of this compound as a typical contaminant of fish feed and reveals how fast this mycotoxin can be formed in fish feed during storage.

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