Determination of ochratoxin a by ELISA test and isolation of moulds from grapes and raisins sold in markets and bazaar

Recently, Okratoksin A (OTA), known as a mould toxin was found in raisinsand grapes which are important export product of Turkey. This has known a greateconomic burden because many export products were returned due to OTA. Also ıthas become a health problem because of ıts canserogenic and genotoxic effects.In grapes, climate, ripening, using pesticide, harvest and storage conditions,food processing effect the amount of OTA produced by the species of Aspergillusand Penicillium.In this research quantitiy of OTA has been determined and moulds areisolated from grapes grown and sold in Çukurova region and raisins sold in marketsand bazaars.Results show that; in 22 grapes and 22 raisins samples OTA amount is foundbetween 5,2-18,2 ppb and 0,2-0,7 ppb in raisins and grapes, respectively. It isobserved that OTA is found in excessive quantities above the Turkish legal limit of10 mg kg-1 in most of the raisin samples. As a mould Aspergillus niger, Penicilliumcitrinum and Moniliella acetoabutens are isolates from grapes and raisins.