Liquid chromatographic determination of patulin in fruit juices sold in Cote d'Ivoire

A high performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the deter mination of patulin in fruit juices sold in C (o) over cap te d'Ivoire. Pat ulin is considered as a natural contaminant of fruit juices. The method inv olved extraction with organic solvent. Patulin was resolved with a C18 reve rsed phase-phase column followed by UV detection. Results of validation tes ts were satisfactory. Application of the method to the analysis of three ma nufactured types of fruits juices showed that few samples contained patulin (18 %). However, patulin was found at a higher level than the admitted nor m of 50 mug(.)L(-1) in one traditionally manufactured sample. These results show that contamination due to the fruit used or resulting from bad conser vation conditions is possible.