This document describes a method using isotopically labelled standards for the quantitative determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and M1 (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2 and AFM1), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), T-2 and HT-2 toxins (T-2 and HT-2) and fumonisins B1 and B2 (FB1 and FB2) in foods by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).
A specific immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up is needed for aflatoxins (AFs) and OTA in food intended for infants and young children (e.g. infant cereals, milk-based powders), in spices, in dried fruits and in nuts.
The method has been validated through an intercollaborative study on different commodity groups: cereals and cereal-based products including food for infant and young children, nuts, spices, dried fruits and milk powder. The measuring range of each mycotoxin in these naturally contaminated and/or spiked food samples were:
- AFB1: 0,085 7 µg/kg - 11,4 µg/kg;
- AFB2: 0,079 2 µg/kg - 12,5 µg/kg;
- AFG1: 0,062 8 µg/kg - 20,9 µg/kg;
- AFG2: 0,052 0 µg/kg - 15,0 µg/kg;
- AFM1: 0,034 2 µg/kg - 0,110 µg/kg;
- OTA: 0,448 µg/kg - 17,2 µg/kg;
- DON: 45,2 µg/kg - 743 µg/kg;
- ZEN: 9,57 µg/kg - 131 µg/kg;
- T-2: 10,3 µg/kg - 57,9 µg/kg;
- HT-2: 9,50 µg/kg - 81,8 µg/kg;
- FB1: 31,1 µg/kg - 4 260 µg/kg;
- FB2: 44,2 µg/kg - 1 300 µg/kg.
The measuring ranges of the method for each mycotoxin/matrix combination are given in Table 8.