Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A: occurrence and contamination levels in cocoa beans from Brazil

ABSTRACT

In the present study, the occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was evaluated in 123 samples of cocoa beans produced in five Brazilian states. The presence of these mycotoxins was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) after immunoaffinity column clean-up. The mean level of total AFs in cocoa beans samples was 5.7 μg.kg⁻¹. Four (3.3%) samples exceeded the maximum limit of 10 μg.kg⁻¹ established by the Brazilian legislation for total AFs. The mean level of OTA contamination was 1.2 μg.kg⁻¹, and none of the samples exceeded the maximum limit established by the Brazilian legislation. The co-occurrence of AFs and OTA was observed in 4.9% of the samples. The results of the present study demonstrated that, in relation to the levels of AFs and OTA established by the Brazilian legislation, most samples of cocoa beans analyzed are safe for consumption. This is the first report on the occurrence and levels of AFs and OTA in cocoa beans from the five main Brazilian states producing cocoa. The data in this study provide important information for farmers, traders, industry, consumers and law enforcement agencies.

KEYWORDS:

• Mycotoxins
• aflatoxins
• ochratoxin A
• cocoa beans
• co-occurrence
• method validation

Acknowledgments

Leila Rodrigues Caldeira and Mariana Gouvêa Campelo for their collaboration in the analysis of mycotoxins. The units of CEPLAC (Executive Commission of the Cacao Agriculture Plan) represented by Antônio A. Lima (CEPLAC-Rondônia), Wesley F. Melo (CEPLAC-Amazonas) and Manoel S. Aragão (CEPLAC-Espírito Santo) for help in obtaining the samples. Fernanda Bomfim Soares for the construction of the cartographic map. The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) - Financial Code 001, for granting a doctorate scholarship to P.N.P.

Declarations of interest

None