A (processed) apple a day, keeps the doctor away? Natural occurrence, exposure assessment and risk characterization of Alternaria mycotoxins in apple by-products in Argentina

Abstract

Apples are susceptible to infection with Alternaria species, mainly causing mouldy core disease, hindering the detection of infected fruits by processing industries. Data on the natural occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in apple by-products is lacking in Argentina and the risk of exposure to these mycotoxins has not been characterized before. The levels of alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), altenuene (ALT), tenuazonic acid (TeA), tentoxin (TEN), altertoxin-I (ATX-I), altertoxin-II (ATX-II), alternariol 3-sulfate (AOH-3-S), alternariol 3-glucoside (AOH-3-G), alternariol monomethyl ether 3-sulfate (AME-3-S), and alternariol monomethyl ether 3-glucoside (AME-3-G) were determined in clarified and cloudy apple juices, marmalades, and apple-based infant food from the Argentinean market using a validated multi-mycotoxin LC-MS/MS method. As well, the risk of exposure was characterized. This is the first report of Alternaria mycotoxins and their modified forms in commercial apple by-products from the Argentinean market. All the different food categories analysed were contaminated with Alternaria toxins, but higher levels were found in non-clarified products destined to infants. Detectable levels of AME, TEN, TeA, AME-3-S and AOH-3-G were found in clarified juices (range 0.9-28 μg/kg), while the same mycotoxins plus AOH were found in cloudy apple juices in higher concentrations (range 0.9-79.8 μg/kg). AME, TEN, TeA and AOH-3G were detected in marmalades (range 3.9-144.3 μg/kg), and AOH, AME, TEN and TeA in apple infant food (range 1.7-225.7 μg/kg). Probabilistic exposure assessments and risk characterizations were carried out for children between 6 months and 5 years old in Argentina. The highest risk of exposure affected children between 6 and 23 months and it is mainly associated with the alternariols. Over 90% of these children are exceeding the threshold of toxicological concern for AME from the consumption of apple infant food. Even though the risk posed for TeA was low in the present analysis, it should not be underestimated, since this mycotoxin was found in higher concentrations and is broadly distributed in other food commodities. Better control strategies to prevent the incorporation of Alternaria infected apples into the process line and the establishment of legislation for Alternaria mycotoxins are needed in Argentina.