Screening on the occurrence of ochratoxin A in green coffee beans of different origins and types

Since to our knowledge no data are available in the literature regarding th e influence of green coffee type and origin on ochratoxin A (OTA) content, determinations were carried out in order to assess the level of OTA contami nation in green coffee samples of different provenience. A total of 162 sam ples of green coffee beans from various countries (84 from Africa, 60 from America, and 18 from Asia) were analyzed for OTA. Both the amount and the v ariability of OTA levels were tested as a function of green coffee provenie nce. The results showed that 106 of the overall samples were positive for O TA, with concentration ranging from 0 to 48 mu g/kg (ppb). In particular, i t was possible to verify that African samples were more contaminated with r espect to samples of other origin in terms of frequency and level of OTA; t he highest concentrations observed were 18 and 48 mu g/kg in two samples fr om The Congo.