Determination of mycotoxins

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by molds. They occur in almost all agricultural products, both raw and processed. Apart from posing a risk to human health, their occurance leads to significant economic losses in the field of food and animal feed. About 300 mycotoxins are known, out of which 20 contaminate agricultural products.

The Act on Contaminants (Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia “Narodne novine” no. 39/13) and EU Regulation no. 1881/2006 on maximum levels for contaminants in food prescribe the maximum levels of certain mycotoxins which are considered as a potential risk to human health.

Mycotoxins are tested in our laboratory using the techniques LC-MS/MS, HPLC and Elisa:

• aflatoxin B1 and sum of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2

• aflatoxin M1

• ochratoxin A

• deoxynivaneol

• zearalenone

• fumonisin (sum of fumonisins B1 and B2)

• T-2 and HT-2 toxin (recommendation)