Fate of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol during storage of organic whole-grain wheat flour

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the level of retention of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) during 120 days of storage (aging) of flours produced from organic wheat grain naturally infected with Fusarium fungi. Three types of flour (standard white flour prepared by a roller-grinder mill – IRG, whole-grain flour produced by a hammer–crusher mill – IHC and whole-grain flour prepared by a millstone – OMS) were packaged in food-grade paper or polypropylene plastic bags and stored at two different storage temperatures (constant 10 °C or 25 °C). The concentrations of DON and NIV were measured prior to and after storage by means of HPLC-UV detection methods. After 120 days of storage, the concentrations of DON and NIV decreased between 0% and 29% compared to the initial measurements, depending on the combination of experimental factors. The greatest decrease in mycotoxin concentration was observed in the IHC and OMS flours packaged in paper bags and stored at 25 °C. The smallest decrease in mycotoxin concentration was observed in the IRG flours packaged in sealed plastic bags and stored at 10 °C. Statistical analysis showed that the level of retention of DON and NIV depended significantly on the type of packaging material, but did not depend on the type of flour or the storage temperature.