A new method for the determination of zearalenone in edible oils with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) followed by LC-MS/MS as well as HPLC-FLD was developed and validated. By using the LC-MS/MS determination no further clean up step is necessary after the SEC. The correlation coefficient of 0.999 for the two detection systems is acceptable. In this research 77 edible oils were analyzed. The mean average value of 38 corn germ oils was 169 μg/kg, the maximum value amounted up to 921 μg/kg.

Vitamin A concentrations in livers of fattening animals and liver-containing products may reach much higher values than was assumed up to now. This effect may be caused by animal feed, which is usually supplemented with vitamins. To support this supposition, 57 liver samples of different species of animals, 97 liver sausages and 106 samples of liver-containing infant food were analysed. For isolation of retinol from the sample matrix the sample was saponified for 16 h under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature. Retinol was extracted from the saponification solution by using disposable cartridges. For chromatographic determination a normal-phase HPLC system using a narrow-bore analytical column and a photodiode array detector was used. It was possible to separate all-trans-retinol from other isomers. The identity of the peaks could be confirmed by recording the UV spectra.--The results of the retinol contents found in the analysed samples ranged from 11.6 to 160.7 mg/100 g in liver, from 1.4 to 31.1 mg/100 g in liver sausages and from 0.5 to 3.8 mg/100 g in infant food containing between 5 and 11% liver. By consuming liver-containing meals frequently a multiple amount of the recommended dietary intake ranging from 0.375 mg for infants to 0.8 mg for adults may be taken up. Also the recommended daily intakes of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung can be exceeded.--The carry-over effect of daily vitamin A consumption of pigs and their liver vitamin A was investigated by parallel determination of the retinol content in the liver after slaughtering and the vitamin A content in the pig-feed during the fattening period. A clear correlation between their daily vitamin A intake and the resulting retinol content in the livers was found.

Tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene) and other volatile organic compounds may contaminate the surroundings of dry-cleaning units. Increased concentrations of tetrachloroethene were found in food, human hair, textiles and dust from a vacuum cleaner in a home situated above a dry-cleaning unit. The concentrations were found to be extremely high in food rich in fat. The analytical procedure for the above-mentioned samples is described.

Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) is an alternative sample extraction procedure for ochratoxin A in roasted coffee. ASE results are comparable to that of the modified Koch method, but required less sample preparation time. Furthermore, ASE gave higher quantitative values than other methods reported for extraction of ochratoxin A. In the end less harmful water could be used for extraction.ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Die beschleunigte Lösungsmittelextraktion (ASE) ist ein alternatives Verfahren für die Bestimmung von Ochratoxin A in Röstkaffee zu bisherigen Methoden. Die ASE ergab im Vergleich zu der modifizierten Koch-Methode vergleichbare Ergebnisse, bei verkürzter Probenaufbereitungszeit. Im Vergleich zu der Koch-Methode wurden mittels ASE höhere Ausbeuten des Ochratoxin A erzielt. Letztlich konnte als Extraktionsmittel das toxologisch unbedenklichere Wasser eingesetzt werden.

Tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene) from dry-cleaning units may contaminate adjacent flats in the same building. Increased concentrations of tetrachloroethene have been found in foodstuffs in homes situated above dry cleaning units and in foodstuffs from groceries located neat drycleaning units. The concentrations were extremely high in foods rich in fat.