Alternaria toxins: Phytocontrol anticipates the upcoming EU recommendation

An expert in contaminant analysis, Phytocontrol offers an accredited analytical method for Alternaria toxins: alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and tenuazonic acid.

Alternaria toxins belong to the mycotoxin class. They are naturally formed by certain fungi of the Alternaria genus, mainly Alternaria alternata, and contaminate in particular cereals, oilseeds, fruit and vegetables, and spices.

Alternaria fungi proliferate when humidity levels are between 28% and 34%, even at low temperatures. Contamination by Alternaria toxins can therefore occur in the field, after harvest during storage, and even during transport of refrigerated products.

Based on current knowledge, alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and tenuazonic acid are the toxins of interest given their occurrence in food and their toxicity.

What regulations apply to these emerging mycotoxins?

To date, no European regulatory maximum limits have been set for these compounds; however, a draft regulation is currently under discussion at the European level.

Indeed, a European Recommendation is expected to be published, setting “indicative values” for alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and tenuazonic acid in certain foodstuffs: paprika, sesame and sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, tree nuts, dried figs, processed tomato-based products, and cereal-based foods for infants and young children.

These indicative levels will not be food safety limits, but if results exceed these thresholds, the cause of the presence of toxins will need to be investigated.

The Phytocontrol solution

To anticipate the recommendations of this future European text, Phytocontrol’s R&D teams have developed a new method for analysing the three relevant Alternaria toxins by LC-MS/MS, with limits of quantification consistent with the thresholds currently proposed as part of the EU draft.

The analysis has been accredited for cereals and derived products, fruit & vegetables and their derived products, tree nuts and oilseeds and their derived products, spices, and animal feed.

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