A total of 404 samples of commercial swine feed from Portugal feed mills were analysed by HPLC methods for the presence of mycotoxins: 277 samples of feed for fattening pigs were analysed for ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), and deoxynivalenol (DON), and 127 samples of feed for sows were analysed for ZEA and fumonisins (FB1 + FB2). Concerning feed for fattening pigs, 21 (7.6%) samples were positive for OTA, (2-6.8 μg/kg), 69 (24.9%) were positive for ZEA (5-73 μg/kg), and 47 (16.9%) were positive for DON (100-864 μg/kg). In feed for sows, the results showed 29.9% of positive samples for ZEA (5-57.7 μg/kg) and 8.7% positive samples for FB1 and FB2 (50-391.4 μg/kg). Co-occurrence of DON/ZEA was found most frequently, but simultaneous contamination with OTA/ZEA and OTA/DON was also found.

Thesafety characteristics of feed used in fish and crustacean aquaculture systems are an essential tool to assure the productivity of those animal exploitations. Safety of feed may be affected by different hazards, including biological and chemical groups. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate fungi contamination and the presence of aflatoxins in 87 samples of feed for sea bass, collected in Portugal. Molds were found in 35 samples (40.2%) in levels ranging from 1 to 3.3 log10 CFU∙g−1. Six genera of molds were found. Aspergillus flavus was the most frequent, found in all positive samples, with a range from 2 to 3.2 log10 CFU∙g−1. Aspergillus niger was found in 34 samples (39.1%), ranging from 1 to 2.7 log10 CFU∙g−1. Aspergillus glaucus was found in 26 samples (29.9%) with levels between 1 and 2.4 log10 CFU∙g−1. Penicillium spp. and Cladosporium spp. were both found in 25 samples (28.7%). Fusarium spp. was found in 22 samples (25.3%), ranging from 1 to 2.3 log10 CFU∙g−1. All feed samples were screened for aflatoxins using a HPLC technique, with a detection limit of 1.0 μg∙kg−1. All samples were aflatoxin negative.

Aquaculture producers, feed manufactures, farmers and distributors and their feed quality-control are, nowadays, placed in the centre of feed safety issues due to possible repercussions of residues in food. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate fungi contamination in 87 samples finished fish feed samples for sea bass (52 extruded feed and 35 pellet), were randomly collected from different factories in Portugal. All extruded samples revealed to be negative for fungi contamination. Concerning to 35 pelleted samples, mould counts were around 1.0 ?10 to 6.5 ?102 cfu.g-1. Six moulds genera were recovered. Aspergillus flavus had the highest incidence appearing in 35 samples (100 %), with a range of 1.0 ?10 2 - 1.5 ?103 and a mean value of 5.3 ?10 2. In the second order were the moulds from the specie Aspergillus niger in 34 samples (97 %) with a range of 1.0 ?10 - 4.5 ?10 2 and a mean value of 1.6?10 2. Aspergillus glaucus had a percentage of 74 % with a levels ranging between 1.0 ?10 to 2.5 ?102. Penicillium and Cladosporium both recovered from 25 samples (71.4 %) with a range of 1.0 ?102 - 6.5 ?102 and 1.2 ?102 - 2.0 ?103 and a mean of 1.2 ?10 2 and 9.8 ?10 1 , respectively. To the fifth order was mould from the genera Fusarium contamination from 22 samples (62.8 %) with a range of 1.0 ?10 - 1.9 ?102 and a mean of 7.1 ?101.