Survey of T-2/HT-2 toxins in unprocessed cereals, food and feed coming from Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina

- Sum of T-2/HT-2 in unprocessed cereals, food and feed was investigated.
- ELISA method was implemented.
- Among cereals maximal observed T-2/HT-2 level was determined in oat.
- The highest level in products was determined in oat flakes and calf feed.
- The obtained levels were lower than the indicative levels given in recommendations.

The aim of this study was to investigate into the level of T-2/HT-2 toxins in different unprocessed cereals (n = 201), as well as in marketed cereal-based products (n = 58), feed components (n = 191) and feedstuffs (n = 91) coming from Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The number of positive samples of unprocessed cereals for food production (>LOD) ranged from 30.4% in barley to 68.8% in oat whereas for feed components ranged from 26.9% in wheat to 86.1% in oat. The maximal values found in unprocessed oat and oat-based feed components were 304.2 μg/kg and 521.0 μg/kg, respectively. As for final products, the highest T-2/HT-2 concentrations were determined in oat flakes (89.4 μg/kg) and calf feed (129.3 μg/kg). Despite of the increased T-2/HT-2 concentrations found in some of the samples, the obtained values were unanimously lower than the indicative levels given as recommendations above which further investigations should be necessary performed.