Ochratoxin A in liquorice products - a review.

Liquorice is a herbal medicine produced mainly in China and Iran. This plant is suspected to contain ochratoxin A (OTA), a secondary metabolite produced by fungi. Although liquorice is not included in the daily dietary of humans, the high levels of OTA reported in this product have concerned consumers. Registration of a standard method for measuring the amount of this mycotoxin in liquorice-derived products is an important challenge and requires the introduction of a reliable, simple, fast-performance and reproducible technique. This review examines studies carried out concerning the occurrence of OTA in liquorice products. Recent information regarding contaminated liquorice, the regulatory framework and methods to degrade OTA in liquorice are discussed.