title: Assessment of fumonisins B1 and B2 levels in commercial maize-based food products by liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection and postcolumn chemical derivatization.
abstract: The occurrence of the fumonisins B(1) and B(2) in maize-based food products marketed in Italy was examined. A simply and reliable chromatographic method with fluorimetric detection and postcolumn o-phtalaldehyde derivatization was used for a monitoring of 100 samples (8 flours, 21 corn-meal, 16 snacks, 7 maize samples, 13 gluten-free products, and 35 corn-flakes) bought in local supermarkets during the years 2008 and 2009. The presence of both fumonisins B(1) and B(2), at a concentration higher than 15 μg/kg, was observed in all samples of corn-meal and maize-flour, in 75% of snacks, in 57% of maize samples, in 54% of gluten-free products, and in 29% of corn-flakes. A total of 7 samples including 4 corn-meals, 2 maize-flours, and 1 maize showed a value exceeding the maximum level fixed in the Regulation 1126/2007/EC; no positive sample was observed in corn-flakes, snacks, and gluten-free foods. Fumonisins contamination, on the whole range of maize-based food products analyzed, emphasizes the need of improve agricultural practices, and increase official control and monitoring studies.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71100 Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lo Magro
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campaniello
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nardiello
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muscarella
mesh_terms: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000032:analysis*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods*; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007558:Italy; D007881:Legislation, Food; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008624:Mercaptoethylamines / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D037341:Fumonisins; D008624:Mercaptoethylamines; C560817:N,N-dimethyl-2-mercaptoethylamine; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents; C056934:fumonisin B2; C056933:fumonisin B1; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde