Determination of seventeen mycotoxins in barley and malt in the Czech Republic

In this study, an analytical method for the determination of 17 mycotoxins was developed and validated: common (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, fumonisins B1 and B2, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxin) and “emerging” toxins (enniatins A, A1, B, and B1, and beauvericin) were detected using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. A modified QuEChERS method was used for extraction. The method was applied to a total set of 52 barley and malt samples. All samples were contaminated with at least one of mycotoxins. None of the investigated samples contained any of four aflatoxins nor ochratoxin A. Fumonisin B1 occurred only in one sample, Fumonisin B2 and zearalenone were found in two barley samples. Enniatins were detected in all samples. The values did not exceed the maximum allowable limit for the selected mycotoxins in unprocessed or processed cereals set by the European Union.