Survey of mycotoxins in retail market cereals, derived products and evaluation of their dietary intake

- About 52% samples of cereal products were positive with aflatoxins contamination.
- Almost 50% samples of cereal products were found contaminated with ochratoxin A.
- Samples 56% were found positive with ZEN & 31% were above the level of 50 μg kg−1.
- The risk of liver cancer due to AFB1 in wheat and corn was 1.66 per 100,000 adults per year.

In current study a total 229 samples of cereal products, available in retail markets of main cities of Punjab, Pakistan were collected for the analysis of mycotoxins. The analysis was performed using reverse phase HPLC with fluorescence detector. The results have shown that 121 (53%) out of 229 samples of cereal products have found positive for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and total aflatoxins (AFs). Samples of 22 and 12% were found higher than the maximum level for AFB1 and total AFs. The highest level of AFB1 and total AFs was found in porridge samples i.e 3.90 ± 0.039 μg kg−1 and 5.60 ± 0.005 μg kg−1, respectively. About 115 (50%) out of 229 samples of cereal products were found positive with ochratoxin A (OTA) and 26% samples were found to be higher than the maximum level of 3 μg kg−1. About 130 (57%) samples of cereal were found contaminated with zearalenone (ZEN) and 31% of samples were found higher than the maximum level of 50 μg kg−1. The highest mean level of 21.45 ± 1.90 μg kg−1 of ZEN was found in Suji (Semolina) samples. The estimated average exposure dose of AFB1, OTA and ZEN based on our daily food consumption data were 3.50, 3.85 and 29 ng kg−1 bw day−1 found in some cereal samples, respectively. The calculated excess risk of liver cancer incidence by ingestion of cereals containing AFB1 was 1.66 per 100,000 adults per year.