Occurrence of fumonisin B-1 in maize imported into Taiwan

Samples of maize imported into Taiwan during 1997-1998 were collected and a nalyzed for the presence of fumoniuin B-1 (FB1) using high performance liqu id chromatography. Eight (6.8%) of 118 samples were found to contain FB1 (3 34-1614 mug kg(-1)). The frequency of FB1 found in maize samples imported f rom Australia was 20%, followed by Thailand (10%), and USA (5.1%). In analy zing the distribution pattern, it was found that 93.2% of the samples had F B1 concentrations below 100 mug kg(-1), and only 3.4% (or four samples) wer e in excess of 300 mug kg(-1). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.