Ochratoxin A and AFM1 in Cheese and Cheese Substitutes: LC-MS/MS Method Validation, Natural Occurrence, and Risk Assessment.

Cheese is vulnerable to contamination with mycotoxins, particularly ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). This study aims to develop and validate an analytical method for the detection and quantification of OTA and AFM1 in cheese and to assess their prevalence and associated risks. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was validated for detecting these mycotoxins in 41 cheese samples, including firm-ripened, spreadable, and plant-based alternatives.

Unraveling the fate of mycotoxins during the production of legume protein and other derived products.

Consumers are increasingly looking for healthier and sustainable diets. Plant-based diets rich in legumes satisfy this demand. Legumes contain protein, dietary fibers and starch.

Morphological and chemical characterization of Alternaria populations from apple fruit.

Alternaria is a frequent contaminant of apple fruit, causing severe economic losses. It can produce external lesions and mouldy core, characterised by a rotten area in the apple core. In the present study, morphological and chemical characterization of Alternaria from apples was performed, evaluating differences related to agricultural practices and type of disease.

From field to process: How storage selects toxigenic Alternaria spp. causing mouldy core in Red Delicious apples.

Apple is a major crop in Argentina where 50% of the production is derived to by-products. Industries process either recently harvested apples or fruit stored for up to 9 months. This crop is susceptible to fungal diseases both external and internal, such as mouldy core (MC).

Secondary metabolite profiles of small-spored Alternaria support the new phylogenetic organization of the genus.

The group of the small-spored Alternaria species is particularly relevant in foods due to its high frequency and wide distribution in different crops. These species are responsible for the accumulation of mycotoxins and bioactive secondary metabolites in food. The taxonomy of the genus has been recently revised with particular attention on them; several morphospecies within this group cannot be segregated by phylogenetic methods, and the most recent classifications proposed to elevate several phylogenetic species-groups to the taxonomic status of section.