Risk assessment of mycotoxin intake through the consumption of Spanish breadcrumbs

Laburpena

In this work, 80 commercial samples of breadcrumbs, purchased from different supermarkets located in Valencia (Spain), were investigated for the presence of 11 legislated mycotoxins. Only 9 samples evidenced the presence of the legislated mycotoxins. The compounds detected were: ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin (T-2) and HT-2 toxin (HT-2). The incidence of OTA was of 3.75% with concentrations ranging from 1.50 to 6.75 µg/kg. One sample showed a contamination level higher than the maximum legislated in Europe for OTA. Three samples were contaminated with ZEA at concentrations varying from 64.32 to 449.21 µg/kg; all values were higher than the maximum allowed by the legislation. T-2 and HT-2 were detected in two (18.25- 2700.48 µg/kg) and one (147.79 µg/kg) of the 80 samples, respectively. Finally, the estimated dietary intakes (EDIs) of the detected mycotoxins, among the Valencian population, were calculated and the health risk assessment was performed. The calculated EDIs were all below the established tolerable daily intake values (TDI).