A study of the 2013 Western European issue of aflatoxin contamination of maize from the Balkan area

T.C. de Rijk; H.P. van Egmond; H.J. van der Fels-Klerx; R. Herbes; W.C.M. de Nijs; R.A. Samson; A.B. Slate; M. van der Spiegel

doi:10.3920/WMJ2015.1903

A study of the 2013 Western European issue of aflatoxin contamination of maize from the Balkan area

T.C. de Rijk^*, H.P. van Egmond, H.J. van der Fels-Klerx, R. Herbes, W.C.M. de Nijs, R.A. Samson, A.B. Slate, M. van der Spiegel

^*Corresponding author for this work

Business Economics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In March 2013 a large shipment of maize, intended for feed was subject of an alert in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission (EC) because the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) level in the load exceeded the EC regulated maximum level of 20 µg/kg. Since the shipment had passed import controls and was already distributed (mainly to German farms), a massive recall followed. The aim of the current study was to investigate questions, raised by authorities and industry, related to the effectivity of EU sampling procedures, the influence of sample homogenisation procedures and sample storage conditions on the test results, and fungal identification as unexpected mycotoxins were identified during this study. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority seized a shipload of maize in July 2013, suspected to be contaminated with AFB1. The shipload was sampled according to the 2009 and 2013 EC Sampling Regulations to compare the outcomes of both sampling protocols. Mycotoxin analysis of the incremental samples showed high mean levels of AFB1, aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), and ochratoxin A (OTA). Also an extreme inhomogeneous distribution of aflatoxins and OTA was proven. Analysis of samples homogenised according to the slurry method showed improved performance as compared to samples homogenised through dry homogenisation. Sampling and sample homogenisation according to the Regulation from 2013 showed a closer estimate of the ‘true’ AFB1 content as compared to sampling according to the Regulation from 2009. No influence of laboratory storage conditions on AFB1 concentration could be determined. Fungal identification revealed Aspergillus flavus as the main source of AFB1 in this shipment. Infrequent occurrence of Aspergillus parasiticus might have been the source of AFG1. The occurrence of sometimes large amounts of OTA could not be explained, however it was suggested that Aspergillus welwitschiae might have played a role.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	641-651
Journal	World Mycotoxin Journal
Volume	8
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3920/WMJ2015.1903
Publication status	Published - 2015

Keywords

Corn
Fungal characterisation
Mycotoxin
Ochratoxin A
Sampling strategy
Slurry

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3920/WMJ2015.1903

Methodeontwikkeling, accreditatiebehoud en inventariserend onderzoek diervoeders (WOT-02-004-014, WOT-02-004-021)
Wegh, R. (Project Leader)
1/01/08 → 31/12/25
Project: LVVN project

Cite this

@article{245bb5a636a84af2a990103f2ad94690,

title = "A study of the 2013 Western European issue of aflatoxin contamination of maize from the Balkan area",

abstract = "In March 2013 a large shipment of maize, intended for feed was subject of an alert in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission (EC) because the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) level in the load exceeded the EC regulated maximum level of 20 µg/kg. Since the shipment had passed import controls and was already distributed (mainly to German farms), a massive recall followed. The aim of the current study was to investigate questions, raised by authorities and industry, related to the effectivity of EU sampling procedures, the influence of sample homogenisation procedures and sample storage conditions on the test results, and fungal identification as unexpected mycotoxins were identified during this study. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority seized a shipload of maize in July 2013, suspected to be contaminated with AFB1. The shipload was sampled according to the 2009 and 2013 EC Sampling Regulations to compare the outcomes of both sampling protocols. Mycotoxin analysis of the incremental samples showed high mean levels of AFB1, aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), and ochratoxin A (OTA). Also an extreme inhomogeneous distribution of aflatoxins and OTA was proven. Analysis of samples homogenised according to the slurry method showed improved performance as compared to samples homogenised through dry homogenisation. Sampling and sample homogenisation according to the Regulation from 2013 showed a closer estimate of the {\textquoteleft}true{\textquoteright} AFB1 content as compared to sampling according to the Regulation from 2009. No influence of laboratory storage conditions on AFB1 concentration could be determined. Fungal identification revealed Aspergillus flavus as the main source of AFB1 in this shipment. Infrequent occurrence of Aspergillus parasiticus might have been the source of AFG1. The occurrence of sometimes large amounts of OTA could not be explained, however it was suggested that Aspergillus welwitschiae might have played a role.",

keywords = "Corn, Fungal characterisation, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin A, Sampling strategy, Slurry",

author = "{de Rijk}, T.C. and {van Egmond}, H.P. and {van der Fels-Klerx}, H.J. and R. Herbes and {de Nijs}, W.C.M. and R.A. Samson and A.B. Slate and {van der Spiegel}, M.",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.3920/WMJ2015.1903",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

pages = "641--651",

journal = "World Mycotoxin Journal",

issn = "1875-0710",

publisher = "Wageningen Academic Publishers",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A study of the 2013 Western European issue of aflatoxin contamination of maize from the Balkan area

AU - de Rijk, T.C.

AU - van Egmond, H.P.

AU - van der Fels-Klerx, H.J.

AU - Herbes, R.

AU - de Nijs, W.C.M.

AU - Samson, R.A.

AU - Slate, A.B.

AU - van der Spiegel, M.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - In March 2013 a large shipment of maize, intended for feed was subject of an alert in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission (EC) because the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) level in the load exceeded the EC regulated maximum level of 20 µg/kg. Since the shipment had passed import controls and was already distributed (mainly to German farms), a massive recall followed. The aim of the current study was to investigate questions, raised by authorities and industry, related to the effectivity of EU sampling procedures, the influence of sample homogenisation procedures and sample storage conditions on the test results, and fungal identification as unexpected mycotoxins were identified during this study. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority seized a shipload of maize in July 2013, suspected to be contaminated with AFB1. The shipload was sampled according to the 2009 and 2013 EC Sampling Regulations to compare the outcomes of both sampling protocols. Mycotoxin analysis of the incremental samples showed high mean levels of AFB1, aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), and ochratoxin A (OTA). Also an extreme inhomogeneous distribution of aflatoxins and OTA was proven. Analysis of samples homogenised according to the slurry method showed improved performance as compared to samples homogenised through dry homogenisation. Sampling and sample homogenisation according to the Regulation from 2013 showed a closer estimate of the ‘true’ AFB1 content as compared to sampling according to the Regulation from 2009. No influence of laboratory storage conditions on AFB1 concentration could be determined. Fungal identification revealed Aspergillus flavus as the main source of AFB1 in this shipment. Infrequent occurrence of Aspergillus parasiticus might have been the source of AFG1. The occurrence of sometimes large amounts of OTA could not be explained, however it was suggested that Aspergillus welwitschiae might have played a role.

AB - In March 2013 a large shipment of maize, intended for feed was subject of an alert in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission (EC) because the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) level in the load exceeded the EC regulated maximum level of 20 µg/kg. Since the shipment had passed import controls and was already distributed (mainly to German farms), a massive recall followed. The aim of the current study was to investigate questions, raised by authorities and industry, related to the effectivity of EU sampling procedures, the influence of sample homogenisation procedures and sample storage conditions on the test results, and fungal identification as unexpected mycotoxins were identified during this study. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority seized a shipload of maize in July 2013, suspected to be contaminated with AFB1. The shipload was sampled according to the 2009 and 2013 EC Sampling Regulations to compare the outcomes of both sampling protocols. Mycotoxin analysis of the incremental samples showed high mean levels of AFB1, aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), and ochratoxin A (OTA). Also an extreme inhomogeneous distribution of aflatoxins and OTA was proven. Analysis of samples homogenised according to the slurry method showed improved performance as compared to samples homogenised through dry homogenisation. Sampling and sample homogenisation according to the Regulation from 2013 showed a closer estimate of the ‘true’ AFB1 content as compared to sampling according to the Regulation from 2009. No influence of laboratory storage conditions on AFB1 concentration could be determined. Fungal identification revealed Aspergillus flavus as the main source of AFB1 in this shipment. Infrequent occurrence of Aspergillus parasiticus might have been the source of AFG1. The occurrence of sometimes large amounts of OTA could not be explained, however it was suggested that Aspergillus welwitschiae might have played a role.

KW - Corn

KW - Fungal characterisation

KW - Mycotoxin

KW - Ochratoxin A

KW - Sampling strategy

KW - Slurry

U2 - 10.3920/WMJ2015.1903

DO - 10.3920/WMJ2015.1903

M3 - Article

SN - 1875-0710

VL - 8

SP - 641

EP - 651

JO - World Mycotoxin Journal

JF - World Mycotoxin Journal

IS - 5

ER -

A study of the 2013 Western European issue of aflatoxin contamination of maize from the Balkan area

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

Methodeontwikkeling, accreditatiebehoud en inventariserend onderzoek diervoeders (WOT-02-004-014, WOT-02-004-021)

Cite this