Occurrence of deoxynivalenol in wheat, Hebei Province, China

• Eleven counties in Hebei Province were sampled over three consecutive years.
• [13C15]–DON was used as the internal standard to confirm accurate quantitation.
• 91.5% of samples (n = 672) were positive for DON, with a median value of 154 μg/kg.
• The ADON were far less frequently found and at lower levels.
• The PDI of DON was 0.49 in 2011, 0.86 in 2012 and 0.56 μg/kg bw/day in 2013.

Analysis of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its metabolites 3-acetyl and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON and 15-ADON) in wheat flour samples by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) during 2011–2013 was conducted. [13C15]–DON was used as the internal standard to accomplish as accurate as possible quantitation.Of all wheat samples (n = 672), 91.5% were positive for DON, at levels ranging from 2.4 to 1130 μg/kg, with a median value of 154 μg/kg. The DON derivatives (3-Ac-DON, 15-Ac-DON) were far less frequently found and at lower levels than DON. The probable daily intakes (PDI) of DON (0.49 in 2011; 0.86 in 2012; 0.56 in 2013, expressed as μg/kg body weight/day) were all within the PDI of 1.0 μg/kg of bw/day for DON set by Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) in 2002. Still, persistent monitoring of DON is important.