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Ochratoxin A is a metabolite produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species that is nephrotoxic and possibly carcinogenic to humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate ochratoxin A contamination in green coffee obtained by different harvesting and drying operations and from fruits of different ripening stages in order to identify hazards. The research was directed to coffees from the highland area of Rio de Janeiro state (Brazil), which is traded in the domestic market. Twenty-two out of 54 samples contained ochratoxin A at levels ranging from 0.3 to 160 microg/kg. Ochatoxin A contamination levels between different ripe stage fruits were not significant (P > 0.05). "Varrição" coffee, consisting of fruits that fell from the tree spontaneously and stayed longer on the ground before being harvested, was the most contaminated. Eleven out of 14 samples of varrição coffee were contaminated. Three out of 10 samples from the northwestern region of the state were positive for ochratoxin at levels ranging from 10.1 to 592 microg/kg. The contaminated samples had in common the fact that they were harvested directly from the soil.

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An analytical method applying ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was validated for the determination of aflatoxins M2, M1, G2, G1, B2, B1, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, fumonisins B1 and B2, hydrolyzed fumonisins B1 and B2, zearalenone and sterigmatocystin in crackers. The obtained recoveries (70 to 110%) and relative standard deviations (< 13%) were considered satisfactory. Method limits of quantification ranged from 0.20 µg kg-1 (sterigmatocystin) to 12.27 µg kg-1 (deoxynivalenol). The validated method was then applied for mycotoxin determination in 60 cracker samples (cream crackers and water and salt crackers) obtained from the metropolitan area of the state of Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisin B1 were found, respectively, in 100, 50 and 28% of the analyzed samples. The maximum permissible limits established by Brazilian legislation for deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were not exceeded in the analyzed samples.

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