THE OCCURRENCE OF FUMONISIN B-1 IN MAIZE-CONTAINING FOODS IN THE NETHERLANDS

Seventy-eight maize-containing foods obtained from retail stores in Th e Netherlands were analysed for fumonisin B-1 contamination Thirty-six per cent of the samples were contaminated with fumonisin Br in the ra nge of 8 mu g/kg(-1) (limit of detection) to 1430 mu g/kg(-1). Forty-s ix per cent of the minimally treated maize samples (n = 39; maize for bread production, maize for popcorn, maize flour and polenta) were con taminated with fumonisin Br in the range of 8-380 mu g kg(-1). Twenty- six per cent of the maize-containing processed foods (n = 39; tostada, canned maize, maize starch, maize bread, popped maize, flour mixes, m aize chips and cornflakes) were contaminated with fumonisin B-1 in the range of 8-1430 mu g/kg(-1). This survey shows that maize-containing foods in The Netherlands frequently can be contaminated with fumonisin B-1.