Statistical comparison of Fusarium mycotoxins content in oat grain and related products from two agricultural systems

•The presence of several Fusarium mycotoxins in oat and oat products was analyzed.•The comparison of the occurrence of mycotoxins in organic and conventional samples was statistically evaluated.•Conventional material was found to be more contaminated than the organic samples.

A total of 98 samples of oat grain and products from two farming systems were collected during the period of 2009-2011 and analyzed for the presence of trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, monoacetoxyscirpenol, diacetoxyscirpenol) and zearalenone using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. All mycotoxins were found at different frequency and levels in the tested oat samples; however, a higher intensity of distribution of DON, T-2 and HT-2 toxins was found in the conventional system of farming than in organic. The highest concentration in both systems (up to 655 μg kg−1) was that of the mycotoxin NIV.