Assessment of ochratoxin A occurrence in Argentine red wines using a novel sensitive quechers-solid phase extraction approach prior to ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methodology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The assessment of ochratoxin A (OTA) in wine is relevant for food safety and its continuous control allows to reduce the risk of intake. Thus, a novel sensitive QuEChERS-SPE (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe – Solid Phase Extraction) pretreatment prior to liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of OTA in red wine samples from different grape-growing regions in Argentine. RESULTS: A sensitive methodology was achieved and thus the limits of detection and quantification were 0.02 and 0.05 µg L−1, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 89.0% to 105.3%. The method was applied to 136 red wine samples (Argentina's flagship varieties: Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon) from ten grape-growing regions, during vintages 2013–2015. Although all of the samples investigated were contaminated with OTA (concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 0.98 µg L−1), the levels detected were lower than the maximum allowable concentration limit of 2.0 µg L−1 established by international regulations. CONCLUSION: The methodology proposed is suitable for reliable OTA analysis in red wines. Similarly, the values obtained from the samples analyzed were in accordance with the current regulations and, as a consequence, preventive actions to reduce this mycotoxin incidence can be undertaken.