Mycotoxin Contamination of Beverages Obtained from Tropical Crops

Mycotoxin detection in selected medicinal plants using chromatographic techniques

Mycotoxins are toxic mycological products that when consumed, absorbed or inhaled cause sickness or even the death of humans. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the contamination levels of mycotoxins (aflatoxins, AFB1 , AFB2 , AFG1 , AFG2 , and ochratoxin A, OTA) in selected medicinal herbs and shrubs using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 15 samples of medicinal herbs and shrubs were selected. Among them, four samples were aflatoxin contaminated while two samples were ochratoxin A contaminated. The highest level of aflatoxin was detected in Justicia adhathoda (4,704.94 ppb) through HPLC (153.4 ppb) and through TLC, while the lowest level of aflatoxin was detected in Pegnum harmala (205.1 ppb) through HPLC. Similarly, the highest level of OTA was detected in Dodonia viscosa (0.53 ppb) through HPLC (0.5 ppb) and through TLC, while the lowest level was detected in J. adhathoda (O.11 ppb) through HPLC (0.4 ppb) and through TLC. The OTA concentration was very low, being negligible and below permissible limits. The present study concludes that there is a potential risk for the consumption of herbal decoctions. Therefore, regular monitoring and proper management of mycotoxins, including aflatoxins and OTA, in herbal medicines are needed to ensure the safety of herbal drugs to protect consumers.

Bioactive profile and microbiological safety of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora beverages obtained by innovative cold extraction methods (cold brews)

Coffee cold brews have been gaining prominence and popularity among consumers worldwide. However, only a few studies have systematically analyzed their chemical composition or evaluated microbiological safety aspects. This study aimed to evaluate the survival of Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli in cold brews prepared from roasted and ground Coffea arabica and C. canephora seeds using the following preparation methods: immersion without filter (INF), immersion in a cotton filter bag (ICF), vacuum (Vac.) and cold dripping (Drip.). Traditional hot dripping methods using filter paper (HDFP) and cotton filter (HDCF) were also tested for comparison. Water at 4 °C or 25 °C was intentionally contaminated (105 CFU/mL) with cells of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (EC) and Bacillus cereus F4433 (BC) before coffee extraction and refrigeration at 4 °C. Coffee concentrations of 5, 10, and 15% were tested. Analyses of pH, soluble solids, nine chlorogenic acids and two lactones (CGA), caffeine, trigonelline, and melanoidins were performed. Results were compared by ANOVA, followed by the Fisher's test, Pearson correlation, Variable Importance in Projection (VIP), and Cluster analyses, with a significance level of 5%. EC and BC were not detected (<10 CFU/mL and < 1 CFU/mL, respectively) after preparing C. arabica and C. canephora hot brews. In cold brews, the higher the extraction of soluble solids and bioactive compounds (with the highest occurring at 25 °C), the lower the counts of inoculated microorganisms during 24 h of storage. BC was not detected after 24 h of extraction and/or storage in the drinks obtained by ICF and Drip. at 5%, 10%, and 15% and INF and Vac. at 15%. EC was not detected in ICF and Drip. at 10 and 15%, and in INF at 15%. C. canephora brews exhibited higher levels of soluble solids, CGA, caffeine, and melanoidins than C. arabica brews. Based on these results, it can be concluded that in the absence of thermal processing as in hot brews, more concentrated cold brews, such as 15%, produced at 25 °C by dripping and immersion methods, are preferable for later dilution due to the higher content of soluble solids and bioactive compounds that contribute reducing the number of microorganisms in the beverage.

The Occurrence and Health Risk Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 in Raw Cow Milk Collected from Tunisia during a Hot Lactating Season

Milk is a staple food that is essential for human nutrition because of its high nutrient content and health benefits. However, it is susceptible to being contaminated by Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), which is a toxic metabolite of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) presented in cow feeds. This research investigated AFM1 in Tunisian raw cow milk samples. A total of 122 samples were collected at random from two different regions in 2022 (Beja and Mahdia). AFM1 was extracted from milk using the QuEChERS method, and contamination amounts were determined using liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with fluorescence detection (FD). Good recoveries were shown with intra-day and inter-day precisions of 97 and 103%, respectively, and detection and quantification levels of 0.003 and 0.01 µg/L, respectively. AFM1 was found in 97.54% of the samples, with amounts varying from values below the LOQ to 197.37 µg/L. Lower AFM1 was observed in Mahdia (mean: 39.37 µg/L), respectively. In positive samples, all AFM1 concentrations exceeded the EU maximum permitted level (0.050 µg/L) for AFM1 in milk. In Tunisia, a maximum permitted level for AFM1 in milk and milk products has not been established. The risk assessment of AFM1 was also determined. Briefly, the estimated intake amount of AFM1 by Tunisian adults through raw cow milk consumption was 0.032 µg/kg body weight/day. The Margin of Exposure (MOE) values obtained were lower than 10,000. According to the findings, controls as well as the establishment of regulations for AFM1 in milk are required in Tunisia.

Fungal diversity of "solom" a Ghanaian traditional beverage of millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

The association of cereals with fungi cannot be disregarded as their manifestation in our foods poses serious health risks. The aim of this study was to investigate the mycofloral (fungal) and chemical (pH) qualities of the "solom" (beverage of millet) available for consumption from their respective sales points in Ho. "Solom" a cereal beverage of millet was sampled from ten (10) different locations in the Ho Municipality of Ghana and evaluated for their pH, fungal counts, and species diversity. Mycological analyses were done on Oxytetracycline Glucose Yeast Extract (OGYE) and Dichloran Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol (DRBC) media from three (3) points per location using serial dilution. A total of fourteen (14) fungal species belonging to eight (8) genera were isolated on both media; Aspergillus (A. niger, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. parasiticus, A. alutaceaus, A. terreus), Rhizopus (R. stolonifer), Mucor (M. racemosus), Fusarium (F. oxysporum), Penicillium (P. digitatum, P. verucosum), Cladosporium (C. cladosporoides), Curvularia (C. lunata), and Rhodotorula sp. were recorded. Fungal counts on both media ranged between 1.68 ± 0.8 and 4.11 ± 0.9 log10 CFU/ml. There were statistically significant (p < .05) differences observed in the samples from different locations. The values of pH recorded were in the range of 3.03 ± 0.09-4.03 ± 0.23 and showed no significant differences (p > .05) among them. All samples were found to be in the acceptable range of values prescribed by the International Commission for Microbiological Specification of Foods (ICMSF, 1998). Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) should be employed to enhance food safety.

Toxic Effect of Aflatoxins in Dogs Fed Contaminated Commercial Dry Feed: A Review

Since its first patent (1897), commercial dry feed (CDF) for dogs has diversified its formulation to meet the nutritional needs of different breeds, age, or special conditions and establish a foundation for integration of these pets into urban lifestyles. The risk of aflatoxicosis in dogs has increased because the ingredients used to formulate CDF have also proliferated, making it difficult to ensure the quality required of each to achieve the safety of the entire CDF. This review contains a description of the fungi and aflatoxins detected in CDF and the ingredients commonly used for their formulation. The mechanisms of action and pathogenic effects of aflatoxins are outlined; as well as the clinical findings, and macroscopic and microscopic lesions found in aflatoxicosis in dogs. In addition, alternatives for diagnosis, treatment, and control of aflatoxins (AF) in CDF are analyzed, such as biomarkers of effect, improvement of blood coagulation, rate of elimination of AF, control of secondary infection, protection of gastric mucosa, reduction of oxidative stress, use of chemo-protectors, sequestrants, grain-free CDF, biocontrol, and maximum permitted limits, are also included.

Mycotoxins in Beverages

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi that contaminate raw materials such as cereals, fruits, dried fruits, coffee, and grapes when they have been produced or maintained in a temperature and/or humidity conditions that favor fungi growth [...]

Detection Strategies of Zearalenone for Food Safety: A Review

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a toxic compound produced by the metabolism of fungi (genus Fusarium) that threaten the food and agricultural industry belonging to the in foods and feeds. ZEN has toxic effects on human and animal health due to its mutagenicity, teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and genotoxicity. To ensure food safety, rapid, precise, and reliable analytical methods can be developed for the detection of toxins such as ZEN. Different selective molecular diagnostic elements are used in conjunction with different detection strategies to achieve this goal. In this review, the use of electrochemical, colorimetric, fluorometric, refractometric as well as other strategies were discussed for ZEN detection. The success of the sensors in analytical performance depends on the development of receptors with increased affinity to the target. This requirement has been met with different immunoassays, aptamer-assays, and molecular imprinting techniques. The immobilization techniques and analysis strategies developed with the combination of nanomaterials provided high precision, reliability, and convenience in ZEN detection, in which electrochemical strategies perform the best.