OCCURRENCE OF DEOXYNIVALENOL IN BAKERY PRODUCTS AND FLOUR IN COVASNA COUNTY

Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum are two of the field fungi that produce deoxynivalenol (DON), a type-B trichothecene mycotoxin that has a wide range of harmful effects on both people and animals. DON is the most common trichothecenes toxin and is present across the world, especially in cereal crops like wheat and the products made from them, such as flour, bread, baby food, noodles, breakfast cereals. In an effort to decrease the amount of DON that is consumed through food, European legislation has set maximum limits for bread (500 μg/kg) and flour (750 μg/kg), as well as a temporary tolerated daily intake (TDI) of 1 μg/kg body weight. DON may be categorized as a genotoxic substance that can induce apoptotic cell death. It has an impact on the health of both humans and animals, causing acute acute nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, headaches, dizziness, and fever. The objective of the study was to determine the presence and the level of mycotoxin DON. The quantitative identification of DON was performed by ELISA using a commercial kit, RIDASCREEN®DON - a competitive enzyme immunoassay. We detected the presence of deoxynivalenol in all 9 samples analyzed with values ranging between 29 and 166 μg/kg, values that did not exceed the maximum limit allowed by the European Union (500 μg/kg). One of the most important aspects of mycotoxin risk assessment is to determine the human exposure to these compounds. The Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) was calculated and the value ranged between 10.15% and 58.15%, values that although not high, should not be disregarded, taking into account that the average body weight taken into account was 70 kg. Although the products analyzed were safe for consumption in normal amounts, certain groups of people are at higher risk of being exposed, such as those with below-average body weight, children and the elderly.