title: Analysis of cocoa products for ochratoxin A and aflatoxins.
abstract: Eighty-five samples of cocoa products sampled in Canada were analysed for ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins in 2011-2012. Inclusion of the aflatoxins in this survey required additional method development. Chocolate was extracted with methanol-water plus NaCl, while for cocoa two successive extractions with methanol and methanol-water were made. Extracts were cleaned on an AflaOchra immunoaffinity column (IAC). Determination was by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Detection of the aflatoxins was with a post-column photochemical reactor and of OTA by fluorescence detection. Mean limits of quantification (LOQ) of chocolate and cocoa powders were 0.16 ng/g (OTA) and 0.07 ng/g (aflatoxin B1), respectively. Survey results showed that the incidences of OTA above the LOQ in natural cocoa were 15/15 (mean 1.17 ng/g), 20/21 for alkalized cocoa (mean 1.06 ng/g), 9/9 for baking chocolate (mean 0.49 ng/g), 20/20 for dark chocolate (mean 0.39 ng/g), 7/10 for milk chocolate (mean 0.19 ng/g), 5/5 for cocoa liquor (mean 0.43 ng/g), and 0/5 for cocoa butter. These results confirm our previous work with OTA. In the same samples, incidences of aflatoxin B1 above the LOQ were 14/15 for natural cocoa (mean 0.86 ng/g), 20/21 for alkalized cocoa (mean 0.37 ng/g), 7/9 for baking chocolate (mean 0.22 ng/g), 16/20 for dark chocolate (mean 0.19 ng/g), 7/10 for milk chocolate (mean 0.09 ng/g), 4/5 for cocoa liquor (mean 0.43 ng/g), and 0/5 for cocoa butter. Both aflatoxins and OTA were confirmed by HPLC-MS/MS when OTA or aflatoxin levels found were above 2 ng/g in cocoa.
authors.affiliation: Food Research Division, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada. anne-marie.turcotte@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tague
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D002170:Canada; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005470:Fluorometry; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A
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