Occurrence of fumonisins B1 and B2 in corn and corn-based human foodstuffs in Italy

A survey has been carried out in Italy on the natural occurrence of fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) in corn kernels from regional distributors and corn genotypes from breeding stations as well as in commercially available corn-based food products. All corn samples were fumonisin positive at levels up to 5310 ng/g for FB1 and up to 1480 for FB2. In corn-based foods, the highest fumonisin contamination levels were recorded in puffed (extruded) corn containing up to 6100 ng/g of FB1 and up to 520 ng/g of FB2. Levels ranging from 420 to 3760 ng/g FB1 and from 80 to 910 ng/g FB2 were detected in corn grits, corn flour or polenta (a sort of thick porridge made with corn flour). All sweet corn samples examined were positive for FB1, at levels varying from 60 to 790 ng/g FB1, but negative for FB2. Lower levels of fumonisins were found in other commodities, such as popcorn (up to 60 ng/g FB1 and 20 ng/g FB2), tortilla chips (up to 60 ng/g FB1 and 10 ng/g FB2), and corn flakes (10 ng/g FB1). These findings indicate a high degree of human exposure to fumonisins in Italy through the ingestion of commercially available corn-based foodstuffs.