Survey for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, zearalenone and fumonisins in maize imported into the United Kingdom

This survey examined 140 samples of raw maize as received at ports or at major maize mills in the UK and 12 after initial cleaning. Samples were examined for aflatoxins B-1, B-2, G(1) and G(2), ochratoxin A, zearalenone and fumonisins B-1, B-2 and B-3 using fully validated analytical HPLC methods with detection limits of 0.1 mu g/kg for each aflatoxin and ochratoxin A, 4 mu g/kg for zearalenone and 10 mu g/kg for each fumonisin. 95.0% and 92.1% of samples met the new EC statutory maximum permissible level for total aflatoxins and aflatoxin BI respectively. The maximum concentration of ochratoxin A found was 1.5 mu g/kg. Zearalenone and fumonisins were detected in almost every sample with 41.7% of maize containing move than 100 mu g/kg of zearalenone and 48% of samples containing move than 1000 mu g/kg total fumonisins. Initial cleaning of raw maize reduced aflatoxin concentrations by about 40% and total fumonisins by 32%.