Analysis of naturally occurring zearalenone in feeding stuffs and urine of farm animals in Croatia.

The aim of this study was to determine feed and urinary levels of zearalenone. A total of 114 samples, 64 feeding stuffs (commodities, pig and cattle feed), and 50 urine samples were analyzed by the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Zearalenone was detected in 68.7% of feeding stuffs, while all urine samples except for four yearling samples were positive for zearalenone. The maximum zearalenone concentration in feeding stuffs and urine was 577 ng/g and 241.1 ng/mL, respectively. Although zearalenone concentrations in some samples were high, the risk for humans was negligible since the calculated concentrations in meat were below the tolerable daily intake (TDI).