Occurrence of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol in Korean ginger and the optimal storage conditions for reducing mycotoxins

Abstract

Mycotoxin-contaminated food is an important public health issue. The aims of this study were to monitor mycotoxin contamination in Korean ginger and to investigate storage conditions to reduce mycotoxins. A total of 44 ginger samples (27 gingers and 17 ginger powders) were analyzed for contamination with aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), and zearalenone (ZEA). Mycotoxin levels were quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography after immunoaffinity column clean-up. At least one mycotoxin was present in 37.03% of the ginger samples (10/27) and 41.17% of the ginger powder samples (7/17). NIV was the most frequently detected mycotoxin in the ginger samples (37.03%, 24.74-263.40 μg/kg), while DON (35.29%, 17.62-401.58 μg/kg), NIV (29.41%, 73.24-439.65 μg/kg), and ZEA (23.53%, 5.80-97.84 μg/kg) were frequently detected in the ginger powder samples. Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were not detected in most of the ginger samples. In addition, two or more mycotoxins were found in ginger (25.93%) and ginger powder samples (29.41%). In the storage experiment, DON and NIV levels in ginger were significantly lower under 13°C and 96% relative humidity than under the other conditions. This is the first report of DON and NIV in Korean ginger samples and the co-occurrence of Fusarium toxins.