title: Fumonisin mycotoxins in traditional Xhosa maize beer in South Africa.
abstract: The production and consumption of home-brewed Xhosa maize beer is a widespread traditional practice in the former Transkei region of South Africa. HPLC determination of fumonisins B1 (FB1), B2 (FB2), and B3 (FB3) in maize beer samples collected in two magisterial areas, Centane and Bizana, showed a wide range of levels. All samples were positive for FB(1), with a mean level of 281 +/- 262 ng/mL and a range from 38 to 1066 ng/mL. Total fumonisins (FB1 + FB2 + FB3) ranged from 43 to 1329 ng/mL, with a mean of 369 +/- 345 ng/mL. Data on the consumption of home-brewed beer are not available. On the basis of published data for the consumption of commercial beer in South Africa, the fumonisin exposure in these districts among the consumers of maize beer was found to be well above the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake of 2 mug/kg of body weight/day set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.
authors.affiliation: PROMEC Unit, Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gordon S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Shephard
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van der Westhuizen
authors.forename: Pumza M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gatyeni
authors.forename: Nontuthuzelo I M
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Somdyala
authors.forename: Hester-Mari
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: Walter F O
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Marasas
mesh_terms: D001515:Beer / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000032:analysis*; D013019:South Africa; D003313:Zea mays / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D037341:Fumonisins; C056934:fumonisin B2; C073063:fumonisin B3; C056933:fumonisin B1