Mycotoxin occurrence in corn meal and flour traded in São Paulo, Brazil

In the present study, 60 samples of corn meal and flour traded in São Paulo were analysed for determination of aflatoxins and fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2). No aflatoxin was found in samples of both products. In corn meal, the concentrations of FB1 and FB2 ranged from 1.1 to 15.3 mg kg−1 (mean: 5.2 mg kg−1) and 0.2 to 3.9 mg kg−1 (mean: 1.0 mg kg−1), respectively. Corn flour presented lower levels of FB1 (0.5-7.2 mg kg−1; mean: 2.1 mg kg−1) and FB2 (0.1-1.8 mg kg−1; mean: 0.7 mg kg−1). Considering the average values of FB1 found in corn meal samples, as well as food consumption estimates in Brazil, the worst case of FB1 consumption would be 2.9 μg kg body weight−1 per day. Results indicate the need for the adoption of practices to control the occurrence of fumonisins by manufacturers of corn products, mainly in corn meal.