The occurrence of the selected Fusarium mycotoxins in Czech malting barley, harvested in 2012-2017

Abstract

In 2012-2017, the occurrence of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and T-2 toxin in 592 samples of malting barley from different regions of the Czech Republic was studied using the ELISA immunochemical method. On average, the total content of positive samples was 18.6% for deoxynivalenol (DON), 9.5% for zearalenone (ZEN) and 20.5% for T-2 toxin. The highest values measured were 917 μg/kg for DON (2012), 42 μg/kg for ZEN (2017) and 199 μg/kg for T-2 toxin (2013). The maximal DON and ZEN contents in cereals intended for food production are limited by the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006, the EU limit from 2013 applies for the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins. Concentrations of any of the mycotoxins studied did not exceed the EU limit in any barley samples.