In the present investigation fresh and dried tomato samples from markets and packinghouses located in Apulia (southern Italy) were analysed for Alternaria toxins. All samples proved to be contaminated by tenuazonic acid (TeA). Dried tomatoes were contaminated in the range 425-81,592 µg/kg, whereas fresh tomatoes in the range 10.7-4,560 µg/kg. The second most abundant toxin was alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), followed by tentoxin (TEN) and alternariol (AOH). Overall dried tomatoes were more contaminated than the fresh ones, although this seemed not directly due to the presence of sodium chloride. Five representative Alternaria isolates within those collected from samples proved to be one Alternaria arborescens (A215) and four Alternaria alternata. Within the latter species one strain belonged to morphotype tenuissima (A216), and three to alternata (A214, A217 and A218).They confirmed to produce TeA, AOH, and AME in vitro. This study demonstrates the possible risk for consumers' health related to the consumption of contaminated fresh and dried tomatoes, and thus the need perform suitable control strategies.