DIN EN 15829:2010-05

Mycotoxins are very harmful secondary metabolites produced by mold. Foodstuffs which are grown, harvested or stored under wet conditions can be attacked by mold the metabolites of which will then enter the food. Toxicity of some mycotoxins is significant for human beings; therefore a solid proof is particularly important for the health protection of consumers. In Germany Ordinance on the maximum permissible quantities of mycotoxins in foodstuffs has been introduced in order to reduce mycotoxin contamination. Since 2004 it contains not only regulations for aflatoxins, but also for ochratoxin A, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. Since 2001 national provisions have been supplemented by regulations on the maximum content for contaminants in foodstuffs which are applicable throughout the EU. Maximum contents of mycotoxins in certain foodstuffs are also regulated by various other regulations. Therefore a uniform Europe-wide method for the determination of mycotoxins is essential in order to assure the health protection of consumers. This European standard on the determination of ochratoxin A in various dry fruit has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 275 "Food analysis - Horizontal methods" (secretariat: DIN, Germany) of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) after in-depth preliminary work of Working Group 5 "Biotoxine" ("Biotoxins"). The responsible German committee is Working Committee NA 057-01-03 AA "Biotoxine" ("Biotoxins") of Food and Agricultural Products Standards Committee (NAL) of DIN, the German Institute for Standardization. The standard specifies a method for the determination of ochratoxin A in currants, raisins, sultanas, mixed dried fruit and dried figs by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with immunoaffinity column cleanup and fluorescence detection. This method has been validated in a collaborative study via the analysis of both naturally contaminated and spiked samples with contents ranging from 1,1 µg to 11 µg/kg. The test portion of the sample is extracted with a mixture of methanol and phosphoric acid. The extract is filtered, diluted with phosphate buffered saline, and applied to an immunoaffinity column containing antibodies specific for ochratoxin A. The ochratoxin A is isolated, purified and concentrated on the column then released with elution content. Ochratoxin A is quantified by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection.