Mycotoxins in ingredients of animal feeding stuffs: III. Determination of mycotoxins in rice bran.

Methods used previously for the determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, ochratoxins A and B, cyclopiazonic acid, zearalenone, sterigmatocystin, and moniliformin in maize were applied successfully to rice bran. However, recovery of deoxynivalenol and other trichothecene mycotoxins spiked into samples was lower than expected and no citrinin could be recovered. Forty samples of rice bran used in the animal feed industry were examined for the presence of 20 mycotoxins. The level of contamination of rice bran by mycotoxins was low. Aflatoxin B1 was present in 29 (72.5%) samples, usually together with related aflatoxins, up to a total of 28 micrograms/kg after allowing for recovery losses. Ochratoxin A at a level of 12 and 3 micrograms/kg was confirmed in two samples, while most samples also appeared to contain small concentrations of ochratoxin A. A chromatographic peak corresponding to cyclopiazonic acid occurred in several samples and one sample appeared to contain a low level of moniliformin. Positive confirmation of these last two mycotoxins was difficult and these findings must be regarded with caution. No other toxins were detected.