engleski

ERGOT ALKALOIDS PRESENCE IN CEREALS FROM CROATIA

Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxins produced by pathogens that contaminate grains, mainly Claviceps purpurea. Rye and triticale are especially susceptible to fungal contamination, but wheat, oats and barley are also potential fungal hosts. Ingestion of contaminated cereals may cause adverse health effects in humans and animals, and it is therefore important to monitor their presence in food and feed, as prescribed by the Commission Recommendation (2012/154/EU). A three-year monitoring of ergot alkaloids and ergot sclerotia on different types of cereals and cereal products from Croatia has included 80 samples in total. Samples were analysed for six main ergot alkaloids and their corresponding –inine epimers. Besides, 28 samples were analysed visually on ergot sclerotia (only rye samples). Ergot sclerotia was found in 36% of the samples with an average content of 0.0242 g/kg, and with a highest value of 0.25 g/kg, which means that all the samples were below the recommended levels of 0.5 g/kg, according to the Regulation 2015/1940. At least one of ergot alkaloids was quantified in 62% of the samples and the mean concentration was 136 mg/kg, with the highest recorded concentration of 1816 mg/kg in a rye sample. Correlation analyses between the incidence of ergot sclerotia in a sample and the concentration of ergot alkaloids, were not sufficient to establish a cause – effect relationship between presence of ergot sclerotia and ergot alkaloid contamination.

ergot alkaloids, ergot sclerotia, cereals

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