Alternaria toxins in tomato products: from analytical advances to risk assessment and regulatory needs

Alternaria toxins (ATs) are mycotoxins of increasing relevance in food safety risk analysis, as they are widely detected in plant foods. Tomato and tomato-based products represent major contributors to ATs dietary exposure due to their high consumption and susceptibility to Alternaria spp. contamination. Matrix properties, combined with industrial processing, can further promote toxin accumulation. Despite the growing scientific interest in these fungal metabolites, an integrated assessment on tomato products is lacking. In this context, this review systematically examines twenty liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry studies published between 2011 and 2025, covering a range of tomato-based matrices. Data extraction focused on analytical performance, sample preparation, validation parameters, matrix effects and occurrence levels. Across processed matrices, tenuazonic acid (TeA) is the most prevalent toxin, with substantial enrichment in concentrated products, whereas alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) frequently co-occur and, in several instances, exceed the indicative levels currently set in the European Union (EU). Occurrence data were integrated with international and national consumption datasets to support risk assessment. The analysis indicates that exposures to TeA and tentoxin (TEN) generally remain below the Thresholds of Toxicological Concern (TTCs), whereas estimated intakes of AOH and AME frequently exceed the TTC, particularly among sensitive subgroups. Finally, this review examines the global regulatory framework, indicating that, apart from the EU recommendation, no formal maximum levels for ATs currently exist worldwide. This integrated assessment spotlights data gaps and the need for harmonized monitoring and refined toxicological evaluation. Tomato products are proposed as a model matrix for refining future risk assessment and management strategies for ATs.