Simultaneous evaluation and monitoring ochratoxin A, aflatoxins, and zearalenone contamination levels of cereals from Iranian retail market using HPLC-FLD: A 3-year survey

Abstract

Mycotoxins are important for farmers and public health. Due to the widespread use of cereals around the world, their monitoring is of great importance. In this study, the simultaneous determination and analysis of aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEN) in Iranian cereal samples, including 150 rice, 150 wheat, and 150 corn samples, were carried out using an immunoaffinity column and analyzed using HPLC-FLD. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range was 0.01–30, 0.03–40 and 0.2–350 ng g-1 for AFs, OTA, and ZEN, respectively. The detection of limit was between 0.0028–0.0035, 0.015 and 0.061 ng g−1, and the qualitative of limit was between 0.0093–0.015, 0.052 and 0.203 for AF, OTA, and ZEN, respectively. In conclusion from the 450 cereal samples, only 7 % contained mycotoxins, and the maximum residue limit (MRL) were less than 1 %. These results show that grain products in Iran are well controlled by the Health and Food and Drug Organization.