Survey of Brazilian tomato products for alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, tenuazonic acid and cyclopiazonic acid.

Alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TEA) are secondary metabolites of Alternaria species. Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is produced by fungi belonging to the ubiquitous genera of Penicillium and Aspergillus and has been found in a wide range of foods. These toxins were searched for by liquid chromatography with diode-array detection in tomato products processed and sold in Brazil. Eighty samples of tomato products were examined (juice 11, pulp 22, purée 22, paste 24 and whole stewed tomato 1). Eleven brands sold nationwide were covered. TEA was found in seven samples of tomato pulp (39-111 ng/g) and four samples of tomato puree (29-76 ng/g). CPA was found in six samples of pulp (64-178 ng/g) and two samples of purée (36-117 ng/g). Co-occurrence of TEA and CPA was found in two samples of purée and one of pulp. This is the first time that the presence of CPA has been reported in tomato products. Neither AME nor AOH were detected in the samples.