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Due to increasing number of food fraud incidents, there is an inherent need for the development and implementation of analytical platforms enabling detection and quantitation of adulteration. In this study a set of unique biomarkers of commonly found oregano adulterants became the targets in the development of a LC–MS/MS method which underwent a rigorous in-house validation. The method presented very high selectivity and specificity, excellent linearity (R 2 > 0.988) low decision limits and detection capabilities (<2%), acceptable accuracy (intra-assay 92–113%, inter-assay 69–138%) and precision (CV < 20%). The method was compared with an established FTIR screening assay and revealed a good correlation of quali- and quantitative results (R 2 > 0.81). An assessment of 54 suspected adulterated oregano samples revealed that almost 90% of them contained at least one bulking agent, with a median level of adulteration of 50%. Such innovative methodologies need to be established as routine testing procedures to detect and ultimately deter food fraud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CAPP efficiency was shown to vary significantly depending on analytes' structure. • Over 60% removal of AFB 1 and FB 1 in maize was demonstrated within 10 min of treatment. • No hepatotoxicity in vitro in treated maize samples was observed. • Significant differences were detected in matrix constituents of the treated maize. The need for safe and quality food, free from the presence of hazardous contaminants such as mycotoxins is an on-going and complex challenge. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) has the potential to contribute to achieving this goal. Decontamination efficacy of CAPP against six of the most common mycotoxins found in foods and feedstuffs was assessed herein. Concentration reduction of up to 66% was achieved in maize for both aflatoxin B 1 and fumonisin B 1. Degradation products were detected only in the case of aflatoxin B 1 and zearalenone and were tested on human hepatocarcinoma cells with no increase in cytotoxicity observed. Analysis of treated maize revealed substantial changes to small molecular mass components of the matrix. While CAPP shows promise in terms of mycotoxin detoxification important questions concerning potential changes to the nutritional and safety status of the food matrix require further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various molds that contaminate many staple foods and cause a broad range of detrimental health effects in animals and humans through chronic exposure or acute toxicity. As such, the worldwide contamination of food and feed with mycotoxins is a significant problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, mycotoxin occurrence in staple foods consumed in Somalia was determined. A total of 140 samples (42 maize, 40 sorghum, and 58 wheat) were collected from a number of markets in Mogadishu, Somalia, and analyzed by a UPLC-MS/MS multimycotoxin method that could detect 77 toxins. All of the maize samples tested contained eight or more mycotoxins, with aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) and fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ) levels reaching up to 908 and 17 322 μg/kg, respectively, greatly exceeding the European Union limits and guidance values. The average probable daily intake of fumonisins (FB 1 and FB 2 ) was 16.70 μg per kilogram of body weight (kg bw) per day, representing 835% of the recommended provisional maximum tolerable daily intake value of 2 μg/(kg bw)/day. A risk characterization revealed a mean national margin of exposure of 0.62 for AFB 1 with an associated risk of developing primary liver cancer estimated at 75 cancers per year per 100 000 people for white-maize consumption alone. The results clearly indicate that aflatoxin and fumonisin exposure is a major public-health concern and that risk-management actions require prioritization in Somalia.