Incidence of Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in Wheat and Corn from Albania

Toxins (Basel). 2023 Sep 12;15(9):567. doi: 10.3390/toxins15090567.

Abstract

In this study, aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) were analyzed in grains, specifically wheat and corn, from Albania. To summarize, 71 wheat and 45 corn samples from different growing areas were collected. The multi-toxin analytical procedure involved sample extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The incidence of AF was 18% in the analyzed wheat and 71% in the corn samples. The concentration of AFs was much higher in the corn samples than in the wheat samples. The maximum permitted levels for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and total AFs were not exceeded in the wheat samples, while they were exceeded in 36% of the corn samples. In the wheat samples, the AFB1 concentration varied between 0.2 and 0.4 µg kg-1. However, the highest concentrations in the corn samples were 2057, 2944, and 3550 µg kg-1. OTA was present in only three corn samples and one wheat sample. However, all contaminated samples exceeded the maximum permitted levels. This report reveals the presence of AFs and OTA in grain commodities, specifically wheat and corn, grown in Albania.

Keywords: Albania; aflatoxins; corn; liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry; ochratoxin A; wheat.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aflatoxin B1 / analysis
  • Aflatoxins* / analysis
  • Albania
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Food Contamination / analysis
  • Incidence
  • Ochratoxins* / analysis
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Triticum
  • Zea mays

Substances

  • Aflatoxins
  • ochratoxin A
  • Ochratoxins
  • Aflatoxin B1

Grants and funding

The study was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency grant P4-0092 and the Erasmus Mundus program of the European Union. The APC was funded by Slovenian Research Agency.