Abstract

The contamination of maize by fungi, especially by Fusarium species, is, a worldwide problem. One of the most prevalent Fusarium mycotoxins frequently found on European maize is zearalenone (ZON), which has been implicated in a range of human and animal diseases. It shows remarkable estrogenic properties and can cause severe infertility problems in farm animals. Currently, 9 countries have set maximum tolerable levels for ZON in food, ranging from 0 to 1000 mug/kg. This paper describes the preparation of 2 maize reference materials (BCR-716 very low level ZON and BCR-717 low level ZON) and the certification of their individual ZON contents (mass concentration and mass fraction). Uncertainties were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement and include uncertainties that are due to possible inhomogeneity and instability. Finally, BCR-716 was certified at a level of <5 mug/kg and BCR-717 at a level of 83 mug/kg with an expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of 9 mug/kg

Keywords

Performance Liquid-Chromatography; Certified Reference Material; Mycotoxin Zearalenone; Fusarium Mycotoxins; Gas-Chromatography; Rice Culture; Deoxynivalenol; Stability; Spectrometry; Cleanup

Published in

Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL
2004, volume: 87, number: 4, pages: 892-908
Publisher: AOAC INTERNATIONAL

Authors' information