Food Toxicology Laboratory, Food, Drug and Chemical Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Inst. of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India.
Analytical Chemistry Laboratory/Pesticide Toxicology Laboratory, Regulatory Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Inst. of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, India.
J Food Sci. 2018 Dec;83(12):3126-3133. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.14404. Epub 2018 Nov 22.
Zearalenone (ZEA) is a toxic metabolite of Fusarium genera that frequently contaminates cereal grains. India being a tropical country provides suitable conditions for fungal invasion to the cereals. In the absence of any regulatory limits for ZEA in India, the present study was carried out to analyze the contamination levels of ZEA in different cereal samples consumed by Indian population and its exposure assessment through intake. Out of 117 cereal samples comprising of wheat, rice, corn, and oats, 70 (84%) were found to be positive for ZEA contamination, among which 24 (33%) samples exceeded the permissible limits proposed by European Union when analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The positive samples were further validated by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS) analysis. Based on the quantitative estimation of ZEA contamination in cereals and their daily consumption values, the probable daily intake of ZEA was found to be 16.9- and 7.9-fold higher in rice and wheat samples, respectively, than the tolerable daily intake prescribed by European Food Safety Authority. The presence of ZEA at high levels indicates a higher exposure risk for Indian population as wheat and rice are staple foods in India. Thus, there is an immediate need to set the permissible levels of ZEA in India to safeguard the health of 1.34 billion people. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: High levels of ZEA contaminated wheat and rice samples suggest that the consumers are at a greater exposure risk. The study will help the Indian regulatory bodies to set the permissible level of ZEA in different cereal grains so as to safeguard the health of common masses. This can happen by simply adopting to European Food Safety Authority standards or depending on the consumption pattern of food and its occurrence, the new safe limit can be prescribed in India like in other Asian countries.
玉米赤霉烯酮（ZEA）是镰刀菌属的一种有毒代谢物，经常污染谷物。印度是一个热带国家，为真菌侵入谷物提供了适宜的条件。由于印度没有对 ZEA 设定任何监管限制，因此进行了本研究，以分析印度人食用的不同谷物样品中 ZEA 的污染水平，并通过摄入量评估其暴露情况。在 117 个谷物样品中，包括小麦、大米、玉米和燕麦，有 70 个（84%）被发现受到 ZEA 污染，其中 24 个（33%）样品在用高效液相色谱法分析时超过了欧盟规定的允许限量。阳性样品进一步用液相色谱-质谱（LC-MS）分析进行验证。根据谷物中 ZEA 污染的定量估计及其日消耗量值，在大米和小麦样品中，ZEA 的可能日摄入量分别比欧洲食品安全局规定的可耐受日摄入量高出 16.9 倍和 7.9 倍。谷物中 ZEA 的存在水平较高，表明印度人口面临更高的暴露风险，因为小麦和大米是印度的主食。因此，迫切需要在印度设定 ZEA 的允许水平，以保护 13.4 亿人的健康。实际应用：受 ZEA 污染的小麦和大米样品含量较高，表明消费者面临更大的暴露风险。这项研究将帮助印度监管机构在不同谷物中设定 ZEA 的允许水平，以保护普通民众的健康。这可以通过简单地采用欧洲食品安全局的标准来实现，或者根据食物的消费模式及其发生情况，在印度像在其他亚洲国家一样规定新的安全限量。
