Estimated dietary exposure to principal food mycotoxins from The First French Total Diet Study

Abstract

This study reports estimates on dietary exposure from the first French Total Diet Study (FTDS) and compares these estimates with both existing tolerable daily intakes for these toxins and the intakes calculated during previous French studies. To estimate the dietary exposure of the French population to the principal mycotoxins in the French diet (as consumed), 456 composite samples were prepared from 2280 individual samples and analysed for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins and patulin. Average and high percentile intakes were calculated taking account of different eating patterns for adults, children and vegetarians. The results showed that contaminant levels observed in the foods examined ‘as consumed’ complied fully with current European legislation. However, particular attention needs to be paid to the exposure of specific population groups, such as children and vegans/macrobiotics, who could be exposed to certain mycotoxins in quantities that exceed the tolerable or weekly daily intake levels. This observation is particularly relevant with respect to ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. For these mycotoxins, cereals and cereal products were the main contributors to high exposure.

Keywords:

• Mycotoxins
• total diet study
• dietary exposure

Acknowledgements

The authors give special thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture for financing the study and to Mr Hubert Ferry-Wilczek, Deputy Director of the DGAL, Ministry of Agriculture, for support during the implementation of this project. His interest in the risk evaluation of food contamination helped to mobilize the resources and energy necessary to allow this study to progress effectively. The authors also give special thanks to Ms Christina Tlustos and Ms Iona Pratt, Food Safety Authority of Ireland, and also to the reviewers for all their constructive remarks and suggestions that improved the paper.