The compositional mosaic of Fusarium species and their mycotoxins in unprocessed cereals, food and feed products in Belgium

Vanheule, Adriaan;Haesaert, Geert;De Saeger, Sarah;Höfte, Monica;Audenaert, Kris;et.al.
(2014) International Journal of Food Microbiology — Vol. 181, p. 28-36 (2014)

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Authors
  • Vanheule, AdriaanFaculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University
    Author
  • Haesaert, GeertFaculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University
    Author
  • De Saeger, SarahLaboratory of Food Analysis, Ghent University
    Author
  • Höfte, MonicaFaculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University
    Author
  • Munaut, FrançoiseUCLouvain
    Author
  • Audenaert, KrisFaculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University
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Abstract
Global food safety depends on continuous monitoring of food contaminants such as mycotoxins in cereals and cereal-derived products. Here, we combine this type of investigation with quantitative occurrence data on Fusarium infestation of these products in extensive correlation studies. Finally, this contributes to a thorough understanding of the presence, origin and physiology of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) related mycotoxins and the correlations within their ranks. Two hundred and thirty-seven samples were analyzed from diverse cereal matrices, representing the most important stages of the cereal food and feed chain in Belgium. Food, feed and non-processed field samples were investigated, with a strong emphasis on whole-grain food products. Two approaches were pursued to estimate the full scope of FHB and its repercussions: UPLC-MS/MS was applied to detect twelve different mycotoxins, and Q-PCR was used to measure the presence of ten Fusarium species. We found that different matrices have different characteristic contamination profiles, and extensive correlation studies identified certain mycotoxins for future assessment (e.g. moniliformin produced by the Fusarium avenaceum/. Fusarium tricinctum species group). The investigated harvest year of 2012 yielded many non-processed field materials containing elevated levels of deoxynivalenol (DON), while even in a so-called DON-year less prevalent toxins such as T-2 and HT-2 might be considered problematic due to their consistent co-occurrence with related mycotoxins. Our data illustrate complex interactions between the many Fusarium species that are responsible for FHB and their mycotoxins. Correlation studies demonstrate that consistent co-occurrence of mycotoxins is not to be neglected, and pinpoint issues for future surveillance and legislation. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.
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Citations

Vanheule, A., Haesaert, G., De Saeger, S., Höfte, M., Eeckhout, M., Munaut, F., Bekaert, B., Landschoot, S., De Boevre, M., & Audenaert, K. (2014). The compositional mosaic of Fusarium species and their mycotoxins in unprocessed cereals, food and feed products in Belgium. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 181, 28-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.04.012 (Original work published 2014)