Patulin and ochratoxin A co-occurrence and their bioaccessibility in processed cereal-based foods: A contribution for Portuguese children risk assessment
Résumé
Patulin (PAT) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are well known enteropathogenic mycotoxins that are present in
several foodstuffs. Processed cereal-based foods are among the first solid foods eaten by children, a
particularly vulnerable population group. There is a lack of knowledge related to the co-occurrence of
PAT and OTA in food intended for children consumption and their potential interactions during the
digestion process. The present study aims to evaluate, for the first time, the co-occurrence of PAT and OTA
in processed cereal-based foods for children consumption, the bioaccessibility of these two mycotoxins,
and the contribution of the bioaccessibility data for human health risk assessment. PAT and OTA incidence
were 75% and 50%, respectively. These mycotoxins co-occurred in 40% of analysed samples. Bioaccessibility
assays revealed mean values of 52% and 56% for PAT, alone and combined with OTA; and
100% and 106% for OTA, alone and combined with PAT. Considering the human health risk assessment,
and taking into account the co-occurrence and the bioaccessibility results, this study indicates a tolerable
exposure to these mycotoxins representing a low risk for Portuguese children. The present work reinforces
the importance of a holistic approach for risk assessment which gathers data from occurrence,
exposure and bioaccessibility.