Feasibility of immunodiagnostic devices for the detection of ricin, amanitin, and T-2 toxin in food.

Qualitative and quantitative comparisons were conducted of commercially available immunodiagnostic devices for the detection of three select agents with oral LD50 values > or = 0.1 mg/kg of body weight. Ricin (oral LD50 > 1 mg/kg), amanitin (oral LD50 approximately 0.

Molds and Tenuazonic Acid in Fresh Tomatoes Used for Catsup Production.

The mold flora was determined for 146 samples of fresh but visibly moldy tomatoes collected from sorting belts in tomato catsup processing plants in California and in Midwestern and Eastern United States. Mold found in 141 of the samples included at least 22 genera, principally Alternaria , Aspergillus , Cladosporium , Fusarium and Penicillium , and 51 species. The California tomatoes were dominated by Geotrichum candidum and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium ; Midwest and East tomatoes were dominated by Alternaria .

Ochratoxins A and B, Xanthomegnin, Viomellein and Vioxanthin Production by Isolates of Aspergillus ochraceus from Green Coffee Beans.

Isolates from Aspergillus ochraceus obtained from green coffee beans were cultured on rice and water. After 20 d of growth the cultures were extracted with chloroform and the extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography for ochratoxin A (OA), ochratoxin B (OB), xanthomegnin (X), viomellein (V) and vioxanthin (VX). Forty-three percent of the isolates produced OA at an average level of 397 μg of toxin/g rice, 17% produced OB at an average level of 312 μg/g, and 84% produced X, V, and VX at an average level of 281, 417 and 386 μg/g, respectively.