Official controls of foodstuffs – contamination of cereals by mycotoxins of the genus Fusarium and Ochratoxin A.

One of the most dangerous food contaminants are mycotoxins – secondary metabolites of toxinogenic fibre fungi considered the main plant pathogens. A variety of Fusarium fungi, which are common soil fungi, produce a number of different mycotoxins of the class of trichothecenes (T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol and some other toxins (zearalenone and fumonisins)). The Fusarium fungi are commonly found on cereals grown in the temperate regions of Europe. In this work contamination of Slovak grain by toxins with focus on the genus Fusarium was monitored. The results of monitoring pointed at relative low contamination of Slovak grain by toxins the genus Fusarium from harvest 2008, which is documented by maximum as well as by average measuring data in comparison with valid legislation. Average measuring data of deoxynivalenol in year 2008 were in barley 48,8 microg per kg, in oats 90 microg per kg, in wheat 70 microg per kg, in rye 65,5 microg per kg, in maize 75,9 microg per kg. Average measuring data of zearalenon in year 2008 were in barley 0,8 microg per kg, in oats 9,1 microg per kg, in wheat 7,1 microg per kg, in rye 3,2 microg per kg, in maize 13,9 microg per kg. Average measuring data of T2 toxin in year 2008 were in barley 3,38 microg per kg, in oats 22,9 microg per kg, in wheat 15 microg per kg, in rye 2,9 microg per kg, in maize 13,9 microg per kg. In year 2009 when presence of nivalenol in 79 samples was evaluated, detected levels varied from 5 to 1025 microg per kg, in case of those samples also deoxynivalenol was evaluated, detected levels varied from 25 to 965 microg per kg. The results pointed at higher contamination. In year 2010 when presence of nivalenol in 96 samples was evaluated, detected levels varied from 5 to 48 microg per kg, in case of those samples also deoxynivalenol was evaluated, detected levels varied from 5 to 2438 microg per kg. In this year the results pointed at the highest contamination over the past three years. Average measuring data of deoxynivalenol in wheat in year 2009 were 241 microg per kg. Average measuring data of deoxynivalenol in wheat in year 2010 were 552 microg per kg.