Sciensano, Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Organic Contaminants and Additives, Toxins Unit, Leuvensesteenweg 17, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium.
Toxins (Basel). 2023 May 30;15(6):368. doi: 10.3390/toxins15060368.
Apple and apple derivatives (e.g., juices, puree) are the most important foodstuffs contaminated with patulin (PAT) in the human diet. To routinely monitor these foodstuffs and ensure that the PAT levels are below the maximum permitted levels, a method using liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed. Afterwards, the method was successfully validated, reaching quantification limits of 1.2 μg/L for apple juice and cider, and 2.1 μg/kg for puree. Recovery experiments were performed with samples fortified with PAT in the range of 25-75 μg/L for juice/cider and 25-75 μg/kg for puree. The results show overall average recovery rates of 85% (RSD = 13.1%) and 86% (RSD = 2.6%) with maximum extended uncertainty (U, k = 2) of 34 and 35% for apple juice/cider and puree, respectively. Next, the validated method was applied to 103 juices, 42 purees and 10 ciders purchased on the Belgian market in 2021. PAT was not found in the cider samples, but it was present in 54.4% of the tested apple juices (up to 191.1 μg/L) and 7.1% of the puree samples (up to 35.9 μg/kg). When comparing the results to the maximum levels set by Regulation EC n° 1881/2006 (i.e., 50 μg/L for juices and 25 μg/kg for puree for adults, and 10 μg/kg for infants and young children), exceedances were observed in five apple juices and one puree sample, for infants and young children. Using these data, a potential risk assessment for consumers can be suggested, and it is found that the quality of apple juices and purees sold in Belgium needs further regular surveillance.
苹果和苹果衍生品（例如，果汁、果泥）是受棒曲霉素（PAT）污染的最重要的食品，在人类饮食中最为常见。为了常规监测这些食品并确保 PAT 含量低于最大允许水平，开发了一种使用液相色谱-串联质谱法（LC-MS/MS）的方法。随后，该方法成功得到验证，对果汁和苹果酒的定量限为 1.2μg/L，对果泥的定量限为 2.1μg/kg。采用 PAT 浓度为 25-75μg/L 的果汁/苹果酒和 25-75μg/kg 的果泥进行加标回收实验。结果表明，果汁/苹果酒和果泥的平均回收率分别为 85%（RSD=13.1%）和 86%（RSD=2.6%），最大扩展不确定度（U，k=2）分别为 34%和 35%。然后，将验证后的方法应用于 2021 年在比利时市场购买的 103 种果汁、42 种果泥和 10 种苹果酒。 cider 样品中未发现 PAT，但在 54.4%的测试苹果汁（最高达 191.1μg/L）和 7.1%的果泥样品（最高达 35.9μg/kg）中发现了 PAT。将结果与欧盟法规 EC n° 1881/2006 规定的最大限量（即成人用果汁 50μg/L，果泥 25μg/kg，婴儿和幼儿用 10μg/kg）进行比较时，发现 5 种苹果汁和 1 种果泥样品超过了限量，涉及婴儿和幼儿。利用这些数据，可以对消费者进行潜在风险评估，结果表明，比利时销售的苹果汁和果泥的质量需要进一步进行常规监测。
