HPLC determination of ochratoxin A in high consumption Tunisian foods

Samples (180) of high consumption food commodities from various regions of Tunisia were analysed to determine ochratoxin A contamination levels. A high performance liquid chromatography method for ochratoxin A determination was optimized. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile/water (80:20, v/v) solution and purified by immunoaffinity column. Average recoveries at 0.5 and 2 ng/g levels ranged from 84 ± 3.1 to 94 ± 1.2% with a between-day coefficient of variation (RSDR) of 3.8%. The method detection limit was 0.1 ng/g and ochratoxin identity was confirmed by methyl ester formation. The whole procedure was simple and fast if compared with other existing procedures. Performed analysis indicates that 45% of monitored samples were contaminated with levels ranging from 0.11 to 33.9 ng/g. The most contaminated commodities were barley, sorghum and wheat.