First Report on Mycotoxin Contamination of Hops ( L.).

The presence of mycotoxins and other toxic metabolites in hops ( L.) was assessed for the first time. In total, 62 hop samples were sampled in craft breweries, and analyzed by a multi-toxin LS-MS/MS method. The study collected samples from craft breweries in all of the Croatian counties and statistically compared the results. Based on previous reports on spp. and spp. contamination of hops, the study confirmed the contamination of hops with these toxins. toxins, particularly tenuazonic acid, were found in all tested samples, while toxins, including deoxynivalenol, were present in 98% of samples. However, no or metabolites were detected, indicating proper storage conditions. In addition to the and toxins, abscisic acid, a drought stress indicator in hops, was also detected, as well as several unspecific metabolites. The findings suggest the need for monitoring, risk assessment, and potential regulation of and toxins in hops to ensure the safety of hop usage in the brewing and pharmaceutical industries. Also, four local wild varieties were tested, with similar results to the commercial varieties for toxin contamination, but the statistically significant regional differences in toxin occurrence highlight the importance and need for targeted monitoring.