Food contamination by ochratoxin A in Germany

The results of studies reported in the literature on the occurrence of ochratoxin A in central Europe have been evaluated. Only data that were obtained from random samples were included, thus excluding those derived from samples suspected of being contaminated. Of 1100 samples of cereals (other than maize) and cereal products, 113 (10.3%) were contaminated with an average of 3.8 micrograms/kg. Of 325 samples of sausages containing porcine serum, 58 (17.8%) were contaminated, at an average of 0.15 micrograms/kg. The daily intake of ochratoxin A, calculated on the basis of information on consumption of such products, is 80 ng with cereals and 1.6 ng with sausages, corresponding to about 1 ng/kg body weight. People who consume maize products, corresponding to about 40 g maize per day, would take in a further 150 ng/day or 2 ng/kg body weight. These findings and the report that the biological half-life of ochratoxin A in Macaca mulatta is about 510 h, explain the fact that more than 50% of samples of human blood and serum tested contain ochratoxin A. As the levels of ochratoxin A in food are not subject to legal regulation in Germany, systematically collected data are not yet available.