Deoxynivalenol and its modified forms: food levels and dietary exposure in Croatian adults

This study determined occurrence of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) and its modified forms (3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside) in cereal-based foods, and exposure of Croatian adults. Food consumption data collected from 1997 individuals was combined with food contamination data obtained by LC-MS/MS analysis of 270 samples. Concentrations of DON and the modified forms in foods were within the range of values reported for other European countries with highest levels in unprocessed maize (up to 7650 μg/kg) and maize products. Grain milling products had the highest mean level (264 μg/kg), followed by Grains intended for direct human consumption (191 μg/kg), Pasta, raw (165 μg/kg), Breakfast cereals (121 μg/kg), Bread and rolls (86 μg/kg), Composite foods (55 μg/kg), Fine bakery wares (43 μg/kg), and Beer (25 μg/kg). The middle bound mean and 95th percentile exposures to the sum of DON and modified forms were 0.3 and 0.8 μg/kg bw per day, indicating a low health risk due to chronic exposure. Overall proportion of individuals that potentially exceeded the tolerable daily intake was 2.6 %. In agreement with a majority of other studies, bread and rolls were the most important contributors (44 %) to DON intake.