Aspergillus carbonarius as the main source of ochratoxin A contamination in dried vine fruits from the Spanish market

Ochratoxin A (OTA) can occur in a wide range of foods, but unexpectedly high concentrations have been detected in dried vine fruits of various origins. The European Union has recently established a maximum OTA limit of 10 mug/kg for these foodstuffs. In order to determine the likely origin of OTA, a mycological study of 50 dried fruit samples (currants, raisins, and sultanas) representative of the Spanish market was conducted. Fungal contamination was detected in 49 of 50 (98%) samples. Black aspergilli were isolated from all of the positive samples. Aspergillus niger var. niger was isolated from 98% of the samples, and Aspergillus carbonarius was found in 58% of the samples. One hundred sixty-eight A. niger var. niger isolates and 91 A. carbonarius isolates were screened for their ability to produce OTA. Eighty-eight (96.7%) A. carbonarius isolates and one (0.6%) A. niger var. niger isolate were found to be OTA producers. Black aspergilli were the dominant fungi. Among black aspergilli, A. carbonarius has shown a consistent ability to produce OTA and is the most probable source of this mycotoxin in these substrates.