Occurrence of fumonisins in Europe and the BCR--measurements and testing projects.

Fumonisins are mycotoxins mainly produced by Fusarium moniliforme, one of the most prevalent seed-borne fungi of maize. Strains of Fusarium moniliforme isolated from cereals in Europe produced in cultures high levels (up to 4 mg/g) of fumonisins B1 and B2 (FB1 and FB2). FB1 and FB2 have been found in maize and maize-based foods and feeds in most European countries. In Italy these mycotoxins have been directly involved in a fatal outbreak of equine leukoencephalomalacia, and have been found at different levels in most maize-based food products, including polenta--a staple food in a region with high incidence of esophageal cancer. The European Commission, Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) and Measurements and Testing Programme (M&T), has undertaken two consecutive intercomparison studies, involving over 20 laboratories from 12 European countries, to improve the quality of fumonisins analysis at European level. The first study consisted in the evaluation of the determination of fumonisins in an unknown solution, while the second one involved the analytical methodology for fumonisins in contaminated and blank maize samples. A definite improvement in the performance of the different laboratories has been observed in the second study. In view of the production of reference materials certified for their fumonisins contents, new analytical procedures need to be developed.