Abstract
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a highly toxic mycotoxin and poses great threat to human health. Due to its serious toxicity and widespread contamination, great efforts have been made to evaluate its human exposure. This review focuses on the OTA occurrence and contamination level in nine plant and animal derived food commodities: cereal, wine, coffee, beer, cocoa, dried fruit, spice, meat, and milk. The occurrence and contamination level varied greatly in food commodities and were affected by many factors, including spices, geography, climate, and storage conditions. Therefore, risk monitoring must be routinely implemented to ensure minimal OTA intake and food safety.
Highlights
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by some fungal species [1]
The aim of this review is to provide a broad overview of the ochratoxin A (OTA) occurrence and contamination level in widespread plant and animal derived food commodities
As one of the most important mycotoxins, OTA contamination has been a global problem because of high toxicity, widespread existence, and lengthy persistence. This manuscript provides a view of OTA occurrence in various food commodities throughout the world
Summary
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by some fungal species [1]. As reported, more than hundreds of mycotoxins have been discovered so far [2]. Estimation of the occurrence level and the main contribution of contaminated food commodities to human exposure is the first step to improve the level of OTA surveillance and risk management. The aim of this review is to provide a broad overview of the OTA occurrence and contamination level in widespread plant and animal derived food commodities This will benefit the estimation of the main contribution of contaminated foodstuffs in human exposure and improve OTA risk management. Cereals (rice, wheat, corn, rye, barley, oats, millet, etc.) and their products are staple food in human diets around the world. A total of 114 samples (wheat, buckwheat, rye, oat, barley, rice, millet, and corn flour) were collected in a Serbian market from 2012 to 2016 [38]. The levels of OTA in cereals vary greatly in countries and cereal commodities
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