Occurrence of nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone in imported cereals in Papua, New Guinea.

Abstract

A preliminary survey for the natural occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins--nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN)--in cereals imported mostly from Australia to Papua, New Guinea (PNG) in 1991 was carried out by TLC, GLC, and HPLC analysis. The data have revealed various kinds of cereals and cereal flours, such as wholemeal flour, millet meal, corn flour, brown trukai rice, and others, were significantly contaminated with these mycotoxins in various concentrations. Among these Fusarium mycotoxins, the level of ZEN was surprisingly high. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins in PNG cereals.