Simultaneous determination of masked deoxynivalenol and some important type B trichothecenes in Chinese corn kernels and corn-based products by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A total of 969 corn kernels and corn-based products collected from 24 provinces in China between 2008 and 2011 were analyzed for deoxynivalenol, deoxynivalenol 3-glucoside, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Deoxynivalenol was the predominant mycotoxin detected. A total of 29 out of 969 samples (corn kernels: 9/289, mean = 1884 μg/kg; corn-based products: 20/680, mean = 1580 μg/kg) contain deoxynivalenol at the levels exceeding the Chinese regulatory limit of 1000 μg/kg for deoxynivalenol in corn.

[Natural occurrence of masked deoxynivalenol and multi-mycotoxins in cereals from China harvested in 2007 and 2008].

Objective: To elucidate the natural occurrence of masked deoxynivalenol (DON-3-G) and other multi-mycotoxins in cereals from parts of China.

Methods: A total of 446 corn and wheat samples harvested in 2007 and 2008 collected from Henan, Hebei, Guangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, Chongqing and Jiangsu provinces were analyzed for DON-3-G and other multi-mycotoxins (including deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), nivalenol (NIV), et al) by UPLC-MS/MS.

Results: Corn and wheat samples were mainly contaminated by DON and its derivatives as well as ZEN.