Alternaria toxins, patulin and ochratoxin A in babyfood products

A recommendation related to the monitoring of alternaria toxins in food was published by the European Commission in April 2022 (Recommendation (EU) 2022/5353). Besides the well-known source of exposure of tomato products, the Commision recommends to monitor further food products like fruits and processed fruits, as well as cereal based food for infants and young children. 

LOQs of 2 µg/kg and lower are requested with respect to alterariol and alternariol monomethyl ether in food for infants and young children, while LOQs of 4 µg/kg are requested with respect to other foods.
An LOQ of 20 µg/kg and lower is requested with respect to tenuazonic acid in all foods. 

Ring test P2310-RT is offered in order to support laboratories in evaluating the applied analytical methods in order to produce valid and reliable data related to the most relevant alternaria toxins alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, and tenuazonic acid. 

Two matrices, an apple purée (a common babyfood product) as well as a ready-to-eat cereal based babyfood are offered as test materials. The test materials contain spiked and/or incurred levels of the alternaria toxins depending on the availability of suitable raw material. 

Another highly relevant mycotoxin, patulin, is offered as an additional module with respect to the matrix apple. Ochratoxin A is offered as an additional module with respect to the matrix cereal based babyfood. The test materials will contain  incurred or spiked levels of the mycotoxins, depending on the availability of suitable raw material. 
An LOQ of at least 5 µg/kg is required related to patulin, while a LOQ of at least 0.025 µg/kg is required related to ochratoxin A.

The results are evaluated

• with respect to the comparability criterion (z-score), and
• with respect to the trueness criterion (70 to 120 % of the spiked concentration level, as fas as scientifically reasonable).