Pattern and distribution of ergot alkaloids in cereals and cereal products from European countries

Abstract

This paper reports on the occurrence of ergot alkaloids in cereals and cereal products in Europe. It includes occurrence data our group previously submitted to the European Food Safety Authority and new data we gathered afterwards. A total of 1,065 samples of cereals and cereal products intended for human consumption and animal feeding were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the presence of ergot alkaloids. The sample set included rye-, wheat- and multigrain-based food as well as rye-, wheat- and triticale-based feed. The study revealed that 59% of the analysed food and feed samples were contaminated with ergot alkaloids to some extent. In 55% of the samples, the levels of the -ine isomers were above the limit of quantification (LOQ), while contamination with the -inine isomers was found in 51% of the samples. The median values for the main ergot alkaloids (-ine forms) and the epimers (-inine forms) were 1 and 2 μg/kg, respectively. Ergot alkaloids were present in 84% of rye food, 67% of wheat food, 48% of multigrain food, 52% of rye feed, 27% of wheat feed, and 44% of triticale feed at total alkaloid levels ranging from ≤1 (LOQ) to 12,340 μg/kg. Though the highest frequencies of contamination were observed for food samples, the feed samples, in particular Swiss rye feed, accounted for the highest levels of ergot alkaloids. The frequencies and levels of contamination were significantly lower in organic samples compared to conventional samples. Maximum levels of individual ergot alkaloids up to 3,270 μg/kg (for ergotamine) were observed. Overall, ergosine, ergokryptine and ergocristine were the frequently occurring ergot alkaloids. The co-occurrence of all six ergot alkaloids was noted in 35% of the positive samples. Occurrence of a single ergot alkaloid was mainly observed for ergometrine.

Ergot and Ergot Alkaloids in Cereal Grains Intended for Animal Feeding Collected in Slovenia: Occurrence, Pattern and Correlations

“…The incidence of EAs in triticale samples was similar to those reported in the studies of Malysheva et al [ 13 ] and Mulder et al [ 12 ], where 44% and 33.3% of 27 and 45 analysed samples, respectively, were contaminated. The limited number of samples in the European study did not allow a robust analysis as conducted by Malysheva et al [ 13 ] and could also be the reason for a slightly higher incidence rate of positive samples in European samples than in Slovenian samples, where results were obtained from 101 analysed samples. The highest incidence rate in triticale samples was observed in 14 German samples (93%) and the lowest was observed in our samples (13%), as shown in Table 3 .…”

“…Considering all samples in a specific cereal group, the incidence of positive samples in Slovenian cereals was the highest in rye (54%), followed by oat and spelt (50% and 30%), while wheat and triticale were lower (17% and 13%). Remarkably, the incidence of positive samples in rye was almost identical to the values reported in Europe (52%) and the Netherlands (50%) [ 12 , 13 ] but differed from the results of Ruhland and Tischler [ 11 ], who observed EA contamination in all 15 analysed rye samples and also a high incidence rate for other grains from Germany with levels from 86% to 93%. The incidence of EAs in wheat samples in our study was much lower than those in studies from Germany, the Netherlands and the USA [ 11 , 12 , 17 ], but close to the results from Europe [ 13 ].…”

“…Remarkably, the incidence of positive samples in rye was almost identical to the values reported in Europe (52%) and the Netherlands (50%) [ 12 , 13 ] but differed from the results of Ruhland and Tischler [ 11 ], who observed EA contamination in all 15 analysed rye samples and also a high incidence rate for other grains from Germany with levels from 86% to 93%. The incidence of EAs in wheat samples in our study was much lower than those in studies from Germany, the Netherlands and the USA [ 11 , 12 , 17 ], but close to the results from Europe [ 13 ]. In the study, more than half of the wheat samples originating from Germany, Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic did not contain EAs, which is also similar to our results.…”

“…The major detected EAs were Es, Et, Ecr and Ekr. Malysheva et al [ 13 ] presented the occurrence of EAs over a three-year period in a total of 1065 cereal samples originating from 13 European countries. EAs were present in 52% of rye, 27% of wheat and 44% of triticale samples at total EA levels ranging from ≤ 1 µg/kg (≤ LOQ) to 12,340 µg/kg.…”

An integrated targeted and untargeted approach for the analysis of ergot alkaloids in cereals using UHPLC – hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

“…Generally it is possible to remove up to 82 % of ergot by mechanical means with conventional grain cleaning equipment such as sieves and separators used during the harvesting process. But despite these cleaning procedures, different surveys have demonstrated that ergot alkaloids can still be present in cereal-based food and feed, sometimes in excessive amounts (Crews et al, 2009;Diana Di Mavungu et al, 2011;Malysheva et al, 2014;Lombaert et al, 2003;Müller et al, 2009;Reinhold and Reinhardt, 2011).…”