THERMOSTABILITY OF OCHRATOXIN A IN WHEAT UNDER 2 MOISTURE CONDITIONS

The decomposition of ochratoxin A (OTA) was examined, under different temperature and moisture conditions, The calculated half-lives, corres ponding to 50% values, were 707, 201, 12, and 6 min, respectively, at 100, 150, 200, and 250 degrees C for dry wheat and 145, 64 and 19 min, respectively, at 100, 150, and 200 degrees C for wheat heated under w et conditions. The presence of water (50%) increased the decomposition of OTA at 100 and 150 degrees C; the opposite was observed at 200 deg rees C. Complete destruction of OTA within the limits of this study (1 00 to 250 degrees C) was not obtained.