Co-occurrence and risk assessment of mycotoxins in food and diet from Mediterranean area

The contents of 14 mycotoxins were studied in samples of different cereals and cereal products from four countries of the Mediterranean region. Two hundred and sixty-five samples from Spain, Italy, Morocco and Tunisia were analysed. Samples were extracted with matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with a triple quadrupole mass analyser. The percentage of total samples contaminated was 53%. The frequency of contaminated samples from Spain, Italy, Tunisia and Morocco was 33%, 52%, 96% and 50%, respectively. Nivalenol and beauvericin were the most predominant mycotoxins. This is the first international report to study the presence of several mycotoxins in different types of cereal (rice, wheat, maize, rye, barley, oat, spelt and sorghum) and cereal products (snacks, pasta, soup, biscuits and flour) from the Mediterranean area, estimate the intake of mycotoxins and evaluate the risk assessment.

► Risk assessment and occurrence of mycotoxins in cereals from Mediterranean area were examined.
► Extraction with matrix solid-phase dispersion and LC–MS/MS.
► The level of fumonisins, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were lower than European Union MLs.
► Ochratoxin A and aflatoxins concentrations were higher than European Union MLs.
► High frequency and high total intake were estimated for nivalenol but MLs were not established.