Ochratoxin A producing aspergilles in foodstuffs in the CSSR.

In connection with investigations of an occurence of potential mycotoxin producing moulds in the foodstuffs of the Czechoslovak Socialistic Republic the authors have followed the occurence of A. ochraceus strains in them and the ability of isolated strains to produce ochratoxin A in vitro. From 14708g of different kinds of foodstuffs and from 6757 on surface sterilized cereal and maize grains of Central European origin A. ochraceus have been isolated only 27 times, from 492g of foodstuffs and 8430 on surface sterilized green coffee beans imported from the tropical and subtropical countries 917-times. 11 (36.6%) from 30 tested strains, isolated from imported foodstuffs and coffee beans were producers of ochratoxin A in vitro, not a single strain of 20 tested strains from foodstuffs of domestic origin didn't produce ochratoxin A. On the basis of the obtained results the authors come to the conclusion, that in the foodstuffs of Central European origin the ochratoxin A producing A. ochraceus strains don't play probably an active role.