title: Patulin and ochratoxin A co-occurrence and their bioaccessibility in processed cereal-based foods: A contribution for Portuguese children risk assessment.
abstract: Patulin (PAT) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are well known enteropathogenic mycotoxins that are present in several foodstuffs. Processed cereal-based foods are among the first solid foods eaten by children, a particularly vulnerable population group. There is a lack of knowledge related to the co-occurrence of PAT and OTA in food intended for children consumption and their potential interactions during the digestion process. The present study aims to evaluate, for the first time, the co-occurrence of PAT and OTA in processed cereal-based foods for children consumption, the bioaccessibility of these two mycotoxins, and the contribution of the bioaccessibility data for human health risk assessment. PAT and OTA incidence were 75% and 50%, respectively. These mycotoxins co-occurred in 40% of analysed samples. Bioaccessibility assays revealed mean values of 52% and 56% for PAT, alone and combined with OTA; and 100% and 106% for OTA, alone and combined with PAT. Considering the human health risk assessment, and taking into account the co-occurrence and the bioaccessibility results, this study indicates a tolerable exposure to these mycotoxins representing a low risk for Portuguese children. The present work reinforces the importance of a holistic approach for risk assessment which gathers data from occurrence, exposure and bioaccessibility.
authors: Food and Nutrition Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisboa, Portugal; CESAM, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; IIFA, Universidade de Évora, Palácio do Vimioso, Largo Marquês de Marialva, Apartado 94, 7002-554, Évora, Portugal. Electronic address: ricardo.assuncao@insa.min-saude.pt.
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Assunção
authors: Food and Nutrition Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisboa, Portugal; CESAM, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; National School of Public Health, NOVA University of Lisboa, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: carla.martins@insa.min-saude.pt.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Martins
authors: INRA, UMR 1253, Science & Technology of Milk and Egg, 35000, Rennes, France; Agrocampus Ouest, Science & Technology of Milk and Egg, 35000, Rennes, France. Electronic address: Didier.Dupont@rennes.inra.fr.
authors: Didier
authors: D
authors: Dupont
authors: Food and Nutrition Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisboa, Portugal; CESAM, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: paula.alvito@insa.min-saude.pt.
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Alvito
mesh_terms: D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010365:Patulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011174:Portugal; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D009153:Mutagens; D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A; D010365:Patulin
keywords: Bioaccessibility; Children; Mycotoxins; Risk assessment; Standardised in vitro digestion