Determination of ochratoxin a in dried mulberries

Ochratoxin A (OTA), produced by molds that develop in dried mulberries due to improper drying and storage conditions, is among the significant chemical hazards due to its genotoxic and probable carcinogenic properties. This study aims to determine the presence and quantity of OTA in dried mulberries and to assess the associated health risk. In this research, the presence and quantity of OTA were determined in 100 dried mulberry samples, randomly procured from various sales points in provinces across four different regions of Turkey between May and November 2024, using high–performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector (HPLC–FLD) method. The performance of the analytical method employed in this study was evaluated in terms of linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), recovery, and precision (repeatability and reproducibility). For dried mulberries, the LOD and LOQ values for OTA were determined to be 0.079 μg kg⁻¹ and 0.262 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. OTA was detected in 89% of the dried mulberry samples in concentrations ranging from 0,426 to 33,23 μg kg⁻¹. 68% of the dried mulberry samples exceeded the maximum limit (ML) of 2 μg kg⁻¹ set by the European Union (EU) for dried fruits. These findings indicate that a significant portion of dried mulberries are contaminated with OTA and suggest that current production, drying, and storage processes may be inadequate in preventing contamination. In the exposure assessment conducted under a high consumption scenario, the margin of exposure (MOE) value for the 95th percentile (P95) was found to be below the safety threshold of 10,000 established for OTA. This situation highlights potential health risks, particularly for individuals consuming high quantities of dried mulberries. The findings clearly demonstrate the need for more effective measures to reduce OTA contamination; in particular, improving drying processes, ensuring hygienic storage conditions, and implementing strict quality control systems throughout the production chain are of paramount importance.