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Dietary Exposure to Aflatoxin B1 and Its Precursor Sterigmatocystin from Traditional Meat Products in Croatia
* 1 , 1 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 1
1  Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
2  Center for Food Safety, Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food, Osijek 31000, Croatia
3  Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, 10000 Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Croatia
Academic Editor: Panagiota Katikou

Abstract:

The assessment of human dietary exposure to mycotoxins is a crucial component of food safety strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the exposure of the Croatian population to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and its precursor sterigmatocystin (STC)—an emerging mycotoxin—through the consumption of traditional meat products (TMPs). These products are not thermally processed, and their surfaces are colonized by moulds during the ripening process, which can produce mycotoxins. Additional contamination sources include spices used in their production or a carry-over effect in meat from animals fed with contaminated feed. A total of 280 TMP samples available on the Croatian market were analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), with detection limits of 0.03 µg/kg for AFB1 and 0.02 µg/kg for STC. AFB1, a known human carcinogen, was not detected in any sample, indicating that exposure to AFB1 through TMPs is negligible. STC, classified as a possible human carcinogen, was detected in eight sausage samples and four samples of dry-cured TMPs. Dietary exposure assessment was conducted using national consumption data and average STC concentrations, applying lower bound (LB), middle bound (MB), and upper bound (UB) scenarios for values below the detection limit. The maximum estimated daily exposure was 0.292 ng/kg body weight (bw), which is well below the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) for potentially genotoxic compounds (2.5 ng/kg bw/day). Although the prevalence of mycotoxins in TMPs was low, continuous monitoring is recommended due to the variability of contamination sources and influencing factors, in order to track long-term exposure trends in the population.

Keywords: mycotoxins; sausages; ham; consumption data; consumer exposure; risk assessment
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