Analysis of mycotoxins in food and feed: certification of DON in wheat and maize.
Worldwide there are either statutory limits or in some instances advisory guidelines for the maximum levels of mycotoxins in foods and feeds. These limits which have been agreed for the protection of human health and as standards for trade are often set at surprisingly low levels in view of both the problems of sampling and the abundant evidence of the difficulties of mycotoxin analysis, particularly so when approaching the limits of detection. Improved methodology for mycotoxins and improvements in performance even of expert laboratories have, however, been achieved through intercomparison exercises organised by the EC Measurement and Testing programme (formerly BCR). On a wider scale, participation in proficiency testing through schemes such as the UK Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) have indicated that between 10 and 40% of laboratories experience difficulties in obtaining satisfactory results in monitoring mycotoxins. Reference materials provide an important means of checking method performance. BCR has made a unique contribution in the production and certification of maize and wheat reference materials naturally contaminated with the Fusarium mycotoxin 4-deoxynivalenol (DON), which has now been available for purchase for some 2 years.
Gilbert
J
J
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, CSL Food Science Laboratory, Colney, Norwich, United Kingdom.
D002138:Calibration; D002568:Certification; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D012015:Reference Standards; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000032:analysis*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
D014255:Trichothecenes; C007262:deoxynivalenol