Levels of total fumonisins in maize samples from Italy during 2006–2008

• Published in: Food additives & contaminants Part B, Surveillance communications Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 116 - 124
• Main Authors: Berardo, Nicola, Lanzanova, Chiara, Locatelli, Sabrina, Laganà, Paolo, Verderio, Alberto, Motto, Mario
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.2011; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: analytical kits; Biological and medical sciences; Cereal and baking product industries; cereals and grain; Chemical contaminants; corn; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Food additives; Food industries; Food science; Food toxicology; fumonisins; Fumonisins - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grain; Italy; Limit of Detection; mycotoxins; Toxins; Zea mays; Zea mays - chemistry; Italy; Europe; Toxin; mycotoxins; Sample; Mycotoxin; fumonisins; Corn; Cereal; cereals and grain; Fumonisin
• ISSN: 1939-3229; 1939-3210; 1939-3229
• DOI: 10.1080/19393210.2011.564313

We analysed a total of 2258 grain samples over a 3-year period (2006–2008) from 93 storage centers in the principal maize cultivation area of Italy to establish the levels of fumonisin contamination. Fumonisin concentrations were measured using ELISA (RIDASCREEN) fumonisin test kits. Mean levels of contamination were remarkably high in each year, with the highest value in 2006 (10.9 mg/kg) and the lowest in 2008 (4.8 mg/kg). Similarly, for each year, variations were quite large: from <LOQ to 77.0 mg/kg, < LOQ to 26.3, and 0.1 to 19.0 mg/kg, respectively, in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The highest fumonisin concentration was found in samples harvested in Veneto (11.1 mg/kg) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (8.9 mg/kg), while the lowest were recorded in Emilia Romagna and Piemonte (4.6 mg/kg).