Aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in breakfast cereals from athens market: Occurrence and risk assessment

A method for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) determination in breakfast cereals is described using a simultaneous methanolic-aqueous extraction followed by immunoaffinity columns clean-up step and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with Fluorescence Detector (FD). Recoveries were found to be 78% and 83% for AFB1 and OTA, respectively, while the detection limit (DL) was 0.02 ng g−1 for both mycotoxins. Both determinations were applied in fifty five samples of breakfast cereals purchased from Athens market. Results revealed the presence of AFB1 in 56.3% of the samples examined (mean 1.42 ng AFB1 g−1). Seven samples (median 3.5 ng AFB1 g−1) were found to be contaminated at levels higher than the EU limit (2 g g−1). OTA was detected in 60% of the samples (mean 0.18 ng g−1). Nineteen samples were found to be contaminated by both mycotoxins. In addition in the present study the daily exposure to AFB1 and OTA is discussed.