Quantification of Alternaria mycotoxins with QuEChERS-based LC-MS/MS and dietary exposure assessment

Alternaria mycotoxins are emerging contaminants because of their multiple toxicity, including carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, and immunotoxicity, frequent presence in food, and the current lack of regulatory limits worldwide. Generating reliable occurrence data is essential for dietary risk assessment, yet standardized analytical methods – especially those suitable for limited sample sizes – are still lacking due to compound diversity and matrix effects. In this study, we optimized and validated a QuEChERS-based LC-MS/MS method for quantifying Alternaria mycotoxins in tomato products using only 100 mg of sample, offering a potential high-throughput and automated analysis solution for tomato monitoring. A total of 43 tomato samples were analyzed. AOH and AME were detected (>LOQ) in 95 % of cases, whereas TeA and TEN were found in 86 % and 88 % of the samples, respectively. A deterministic dietary exposure assessment indicated that AOH and AME may pose potential health risks, especially for children, whereas TeA and TEN were not of concern under the assessed scenarios. Considering the relevant health risks associated with Alternaria mycotoxins, monitoring these contaminants in food is imperative. The method developed in this study provides a practical tool for generating the occurrence data required to refine exposure estimates and to support evidence-based food safety risk assessments and potential future regulations. • QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS method developed to quantify Alternaria mycotoxins in tomatoes. • Method validation following EU 2002/657/EC guidelines for 100 mg tomato samples. • AOH, AME in 95 %, TeA in 86 %, and TEN in 88 % of tomato samples were detected. • AOH and AME posed health risks; TeA and TEN did not in dietary exposure assessment.