Preparation and certification of zearalenone mass concentration of two low-level maize reference materials

The contamination of maize by fungi, especially by Fusarium species, is a worldwide problem. One of the most prevalent Fusarium mycotoxins frequently found on European maize is zearalenone (ZON), which has been implicated in a range of human and animal diseases. It shows remarkable estrogenic properties and can cause severe infertility problems in farm animals. Currently, 9 countries have set maximum tolerable levels for ZON in food, ranging from 0 to 1000 microg/kg. This paper describes the preparation of 2 maize reference materials (BCR-716 very low level ZON and BCR-717 low level ZON) and the certification of their individual ZON contents (mass concentration and mass fraction). Uncertainties were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement and include uncertainties that are due to possible inhomogeneity and instability. Finally, BCR-716 was certified at a level of <5 microg/kg and BCR-717 at a level of 83 microg/kg with an expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of 9 microg/kg.