Fermentation of wort containing deoxynivalenol and zearalenone

Wort containing deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, each added at a level of 1.9 μg/mL, was fermented by 3 strains ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae for 7 or 9 days to make beer. Analysis showed that deoxynivalenol was stable during this process. The major metabolite of zearalenone was β - zearalenol, which formed in up to 69% of the initial zearalenone concentration, while up to 8.1% of the initial zearalenone was converted to α - zearalenol. The major part of the metabolism of zearalenone occurred by 1 - 2 days. Control experiments, where the yeasts were omitted and deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and α - and β - zearalenol were added, showed good recovery and stability of the mycotoxins over the 7-9 day time period. No deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, α-zearalenol or β-zearalenol was detected in control yeast fermentations where they were not added to the wort.