Incidence of trichothecenes in wheat-based foods from China

Abstract

The occurrence of trichothecene toxins was determined in different kinds of wheat-based foods (convenience noodles, biscuits, bread and cakes) in Nanjing, China. A total of 74 commercially available samples were collected from the supermarkets in Nanjing from September 2006 to April 2007. Three trichothecenes named deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3ADON) and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15ADON) were detected and quantified by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The incidence of DON, 3ADON and 15ADON were 73.0, 8.1 and 23.0%, respectively, the content ranges were 0.07–11.38, 0.25–1.47 and 0.03–2.06 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, and the average contents were 2.47, 0.71 and 0.48 mg kg⁻¹ in positive samples, respectively. The average DON contents in convenience noodles, biscuits, bread and cakes were 2.36, 2.79, 1.86 and 0.62 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Thirty-seven of 74 samples contained more than 1 mg of DON per kilogram, which is the regulatory limit defined by the Chinese government.

Keywords:

• wheat-based foods
• China
• trichothecene
• deoxynivalenol
• acetyldeoxynivalenol

Acknowledgement

The authors kindly thank Dr Hongmei Li from Department of Plant Pathology in Nanjing Agricultural University for English correction.

Notes

†Co-first authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pingsheng Fan†

†Co-first authors.