Determination of fumonisin B1 and B2 in corn flakes

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced mostly by Fusarium verticillioides (moniliforme) and Fusarium proliferatum species. Fumonisins are the most common maize contaminant in the world. Fumonisins have B1, B2, B3, A and C series metabolites, the most common and most toxic of them, Fumonisin B1 (FB1), secondly Fumonisin B2 (FB2) toxin. For Fusarium spp. the molds are field molds, FB1 occurs in the field in maize. FB1 is known to cause leucoencephalomalacia in horses, pulmonary edema in pigs and liver cancer in rats. It is strongly thought to be the cause of esophageal cancer in humans in many regions of the world where corn consumption is high. It has been scientifically proven that fumonisins are carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic and embryotoxic. It has been designated as Group 2B by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In this study, 30 different samples were taken as corn flakes and breakfast cereals belonging to different brands sold in markets. The samples were extracted with methanol+acetonitrile+water (25+25+50. v/v/v). After extraction, the C18 solid-phase was passed through the column and dried under nitrogen gas. The dried extracts were dissolved with 200 μl of acetonitrile-water (50+50 v/v). The dissolved extracts were read in the HPLC system, which was calibrated according to the AOAC Offical Method 2001.04 by making one-to-one o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) derivatization. Total fumonisin amounts in 27 (90%) samples of 30 corn chips and flakes studied were found at varying rates between 0.0168 and 4.126 mg/kg. Total fumonisin (FB1+FB2) amounts in 12 corn chips samples were determined above the corn-based limits (800 and 1000 μg/kg) given in the food codex. These are respectively 4126; 3079,8; 2921,7; 1787,9; 1677,9; 1658,6; 1355,4; 1307,0; 1137,5; 1065,9; 981,6; 877,3 μg/kg It was determined as 0.8773 mg/kg. 12 samples with total fumonisin content between 4126-877 μg/kg were not found to comply with the regulation. In this study, fumonisin B1 toxin was found in 90% of 30 samples studied. According to the results of this study, FB1 3.9585- 0.0168 μg/kg in corn chips; FB2 ranged from 0.1675 to 0.0001 μg/kg. FB1 and FB2 were not detected in 3 samples. In 6 samples, only FB1 was detected and FB2 was not detected.