This paper describes the composition of walnut oils obtained from nuts collected from seven countries that are major suppliers of walnut oil. Oils were extracted from the nuts using small-scale industry pressing equipment and analyzed using standard methods for fatty acids, fatty acids in the triacylglycerol 2-position, tocopherols and tocotrienols, triacylglycerols, sterols, steradienes, and iodine value. Values for the composition of the sterols, triacylglycerols, fatty acids, iodine value, and tocopherol composition were generally in good agreement with the results of previous similar surveys. Tocotrienols were not detected in any sample. Steradienes (stigmastadiene, campestadiene, stigmastatriene, and campestatriene) were not detected in any oil.

The approach to assess exposure to ochratoxin A from the diet by the analysis of human plasma and urine samples has been developed. Composite duplicate diet samples from 50 individuals and corresponding plasma and urine samples were obtained over 30 days. Samples were analysed using sensitive methods capable of measuring ochratoxin A at 0.001 ng g(-1) in food, 0.1 ng ml(-1) in plasma and 0.01 ng ml(-1) in urine. Analysis of the foods indicated ochratoxin A levels contributing to an average intake in the range 0.26-3.54 ng kg(-1) bw day(-1) over the 30 days. Ochratoxin A was found in all plasma samples and in 46 urine samples. The correlation between the plasma ochratoxin A levels and ochratoxin A consumption was not significant (95% confidence limit). However, a significant correlation was found between ochratoxin A consumption and the urine ochratoxin A concentration expressed as the total amount excreted. This new work offers the possibility of using ochratoxin A in urine as a simple and reliable biomarker to estimate exposure to this mycotoxin.

This paper describes the composition of 30 grape-seed oils obtained from France, Italy, and Spain during 2002-2003. Oils were extracted from the seeds using small-scale industrial solvent extraction equipment and analyzed in their unrefined state using standard methods for fatty acids, fatty acids in the triacylglycerol 2-position, tocopherols and tocotrienols, triglycerides, sterols, steradienes, and iodine value. Values for the composition of the sterols, triglycerides, fatty acids, iodine value, and tocopherol composition were generally in good agreement with the results of previous similar surveys. Steradienes (stigmastadiene, campestadiene, stigmastatriene, and campestatriene) were detected in the oil and were probably formed from sterols during the extraction process.

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