A total of 1709 samples of plant-derived food products, mainly produced in Europe, were analysed for tropane alkaloids (TAs). The samples, of which 27.4% came from organic production, were collected from retail stores, ). Samples analysed for the presence of 24 TAs comprised 268 single component flours (buckwheat, millet, corn), 260 cereal-based foods for young children age 6-36 months (breakfast cereals, biscuits and other cereal-based foods), 219 breakfast cereals, 164 biscuits and pastry, 114 bread, 81 pasta, 121 dry (herbal) teas, 78 legumes and stir-fry mixes. Samples analysed for six calystegines comprised 308 potato, 90 aubergine and six bell peppers. All samples were analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Two methods were developed and validated in house and were considered fit for purpose. The limits of quantification for the various food groups were, depending on the type of TA, 0.0067-0.0333 μg/L for tea infusion, 0.5-5 μg/kg in cereal-based products, herbal tea and vegetable products, and 1-2.5 mg/kg in potatoes and aubergines. One or more TAs were detected in 21.3% of single component flours, 20.0% of cereal-based foods for young children age 6-36 months, 6.8% of breakfast cereals, 14.6% of biscuits and pastry, 15.8% of bread, 70.2% of dry (herbal) tea, 26.2% of legumes and stir-fry mixes, 100% of potatoes and 92.7% of aubergines. No TAs were detected in pasta. The highest mean TA concentration was detected in cereal-based meals for children (130.7 µg/kg), and the maximum TA concentration of was detected in a dry herbal tea sample (4357.6 µg/kg). Atropi ne and scopolamine were the most frequently detected TAs with a maximum sum concentration of 428.5 µg/kg in a dry herbal tea.

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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are secondary metabolites of plant families such as Asteraceae or Boraginaceae and are suspected to be genotoxic carcinogens. Recent investigations revealed their frequent occurrence in honey and particularly in tea. To obtain a comprehensive overview of the PA content in animal-and plant-derived food from the European market, and to provide a basis for future risk analysis, a total of 1105 samples were collected in 2014 and 2015. These comprised milk and milk products, eggs, meat and meat products, (herbal) teas, and (herbal) food supplements collected in supermarkets, retail shops, and via the internet. PAs were detected in a large proportion of plant-derived foods: 91% of the (herbal) teas and 60% of the food supplements contained at least one individual PA. All types of (herbal) teas investigated were found to contain PAs, with a mean concentration of 460 µg kg −1 dry tea (corresponding to 6.13 µg L −1 in [herbal] tea infusion). The highest mean concentrations were found in rooibos tea (599 µg kg −1 dry tea, 7.99 µg L −1 tea infusion) and the lowest in camomile tea (274 µg kg −1 dry tea, 3.65 µg L −1 tea infusion). Occurrence of PAs in food supplements was found to be highly variable, but in comparable ranges as for (herbal) tea. The highest concentrations were present in supplements containing plant material from known PA-producing plants. In contrast, only 2% of the animalderived products, in particular 6% of milk samples and 1% of egg samples, contained PAs. Determined levels in milk were relatively low, ranged between 0.05 and 0.17 µg L −1 and only trace amounts of 0.10-0.12 µg kg −1 were found in eggs. No PAs were detected in the other animal-derived products.ARTICLE HISTORY

The presence in wine of the fungal metabolite, ochratoxin A (OTA), represents a serious risk for consumer health. A variety of fining agents, including activated carbon, silica gel, potassium caseinate, egg albumin, and gelatin, was evaluated in relation to their abilities to remove OTA in fortified wines. Freundlich adsorption isotherms were used to model the adsorption behavior between ochratoxin A and the fining agent. Potassium caseinate and activated carbon were found to be the best fining agents that could be used to remove OTA in wine. Potassium caseinate removed up to 82% of OTA when used at 150 g/hL, whereas activated carbon showed the highest specific adsorption capacity due to a high surface area per mass and low adsorption of total polyphenols.

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