Project Number: 3620-42000-036-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jan 19, 2006
End Date: Jan 18, 2011

Objective:
Development of highly-sensitive methods for detection of mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, ochratoxin A, patulin, and zearalenone) in foods consumed by very young children. Utilize sensitive, analytical methods for detection of aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, ochratoxin A, patulin, and zearalenone in high-value foods for very young children where the mycotoxins have traditionally been found only in trace amounts.

Approach:
Method development will focus on the influence and impact that the product matrix has on the isolation and detection of the mycotoxin of interest. Initial assays will involve detection by HPLC, with confirmation by LC-MS. In countries where mycotoxins have been monitored in baby food, the methods used frequently involved immunoaffinity columns cleanup and HPLC or MS quantitation. Methods developed in this project will be compared with previously validated methods. All of the major baby food producers sell products in three stages. Stage-one is for children up to six months of age, stage-two is for children from six to nine months, and stage-three is for children nine months and older. There will be discussions with baby food manufacturers about newly developed matrices. It is anticipated future studies will include cereal-based baby foods produced from different agricultural practices, such as organic. Initially, detection methods will be validated by spiking samples with the individual mycotoxins and the percent recovery will be determined.