Abstract
This study aimed to establish a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to investigate the residues of patulin in apples, hawthorns, and their products. A total of 400 samples were collected from online shop** plats and supermarkets in China, including apples (n = 50), hawthorns (n = 50), and their products (apple juice, apple puree, apple jam, hawthorn juice, hawthorn chips, and hawthorn rolls, n = 300). In this experiment, this method had good linearity and a recovery of 82.3–94.4% for patulin. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.2 µg/kg for liquid samples, while it was 0.3 µg/kg for solid and semi-fluid samples. The frequencies of patulin were 79.8% in 400 samples, and the patulin concentration is from 0.6 to 126.0 µg/kg. Two samples (0.5%) for patulin exceeded the regulatory limit (50 µg/kg) in 400 samples. The frequencies of patulin in kinds of samples were 32.0–98.0% (p < 0.05), and the percentage of samples exceeding the limit was not more than 2.0%. The frequencies of patulin in domestic samples were 83.0%, while they were 57.7% in imported samples. Two domestic samples (0.6%) contained patulin above the regulatory limit, while none of the imported samples exceeded the limit. Among the online and offline samples, the frequencies of patulin were 76.4 and 82.1%. Two online samples (1.0%) for patulin exceeded the regulatory limit, whereas none of the offline samples exceeded the limit. These results showed it is important to monitor regularly the content of patulin in apples, hawthorns, and their products to ensure consumer food safety.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Agriopoulou S, Stamatelopoulou E, Varzakas T (2020) Advances in occurrence, importance, and mycotoxin control strategies: prevention and detoxification in foods. Foods 9(2):137. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9020137
Alshannaq A, Yu JH (2017) Occurrence, toxicity, and analysis of major mycotoxins in food. Int J Environ Res Public Health 14(6):632. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060632
Aslam K, Iqbal SZ, Razis AFA, Usman S, Ali NB (2021) Patulin contamination of citrus fruits from Punjab and northern Pakistan and estimation of associated dietary intake. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(5):2270. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052270
Assunção R, Alvito P, Kleiveland CR, Lea TE (2016) Characterization of in vitro effects of patulin on intestinal epithelial and immune cells. Toxicol Lett 250–251:47–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.04.007
Bacha SAS, Li Y, Nie J, Xu G, Han L, Farooq S (2023) Comprehensive review on patulin and alternaria toxins in fruit and derived products. Front Plant Sci 14:1139757. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1139757
Balázs E, Schepers JS (2007) The mycotoxin threat to food safety. Int J Food Microbiol 119(1–2):1–2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2007.07.018
Barad S, Sionov E, Prusky D (2016) Role of patulin in post-harvest diseases. Fungal Biol Rev 30(1):24–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbr.2016.02.001
CFDA - China Food and Drug Administration (2017) GB 2761–2017 Limits of mycotoxins in food under the national standard for food safety (China). Available from: http://down.foodmate.net/standard/yulan.php?itemid=50747
Chen L, Sun L, Zhang R, Liao N, Qi X, Chen J (2022) Surveillance for foodborne disease outbreaks in Zhejiang province, China, 2015–2020. BMC Public Health 22(1):135. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12568-4
Cunha SC, Faria MA, Pereira VL, Oliveira TM, Lima AC, Pinto E (2014) Patulin assessment and fungi identification in organic and conventional fruits and derived products. Food Control 44:185–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.03.043
Deberghes P, Betbeder AM, Boisard F, Blanc R, Delaby JF, Krivobok S, Steiman R, Seigle-Murandi F, Creppy E (1995) Detoxification of ochratoxin A, a food contaminant: prevention of growth of Aspergillus ochraceus and its production of ochratoxin A. Mycotoxin Res 11(1):37–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03192060
Diao E, Ma K, Qian S, Zhang H, **e P, Mao R, Song H (2022) Removal of patulin by thiol-compounds: a review. Toxicon 205:31–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.11.010
EU - European Union (2023) Commission regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food and repealing regulation (EC) no 1881/2006 (Text with EEA relevance) OJ L 119,5.5:103-157 Last consolidated version available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32023R0915
Fujita M, Yamamoto Y, Watanabe S, Sugawara T, Wakabayashi K, Tahara Y, Horie N, Fujimoto K, Kusakari K, Kurokawa Y, Kawakami T, Kojima K, Kojima H, Ono A, Katsuoka Y, Tanabe H, Yokoyama H, Kasahara T (2019) Cause of and countermeasures for oxidation of the cysteine-derived reagent used in the amino acid derivative reactivity assay. J Appl Toxicol 39(2):191–208. https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.3707
Hassan NH, Othman H, Abdul Malek NR, Zulkurnain M, Saad B, Wong YF (2020) Simultaneous quantitative assessment of ochratoxin A, patulin, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and bisphenol A in fruit drinks using HPLC with diode array-fluorimetric detection. Foods 9(11):1633. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9111633
Hussain S, Asi MR, Iqbal M, Akhtar M, Imran M, Ariño A (2020a) Surveillance of patulin in apple, grapes, juices and value-added products for sale in Pakistan. Foods 9(12):1744. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9121744
Hussain S, Asi MR, Iqbal M, Khalid N, Wajih-Ul-Hassan S, Arino A (2020b) Patulin mycotoxin in mango and orange fruits, juices, pulps, and jams marketed in Pakistan. Toxins (Basel) 12(1):52. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12010052
Ji X, Li R, Yang H, Qi P, **ao Y, Qian M (2017) Occurrence of patulin in various fruit products and dietary exposure assessment for consumers in China. Food Control 78:100–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2017.02.044
Ji XF, Yang H, Wang JM, Ni XL, Zhang YH, Zhang MR (2019) Simultaneous determination of 8 mycotoxins in dried hawthorn products by ultra performance liquid chromato-graphy-tandem mass spectrometry. Qual Saf Ag Prod (01):39–44. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:NYZL.0.2019-01-010
Kumar P, Mahato DK, Kamle M, Mohanta TK, Kang SG (2016) Aflatoxins: a global concern for food safety, human health and their management. Front Microbiol 7:2170. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.02170
Li B, Chen Y, Zhang Z, Qin G, Chen T, Tian S (2020) Molecular basis and regulation of pathogenicity and patulin biosynthesis in Penicillium expansum. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 19(6):3416–3438. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12612
Li F, Zhao S, Chin L, Li Y, Wu D, Zhao X, Han C, Zhang H, Ji R (2007) Determination of patulin in apple and hawthorn beverages by solid-phase filtration column and liquid chromatography. J AOAC Int 90(1):167–172. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17373448
Li H, Zhang Y, Gao C, Gao Q, Cheng Y, Zhao M, Guan J (2022) Mycotoxin production and the relationship between microbial diversity and mycotoxins in Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd cv. Huangguan Pear. Toxins (Basel) 14(10):699. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14100699
Lien KW, Ling MP, Pan MH (2020) Probabilistic risk assessment of patulin in imported apple juice and apple-containing beverages in Taiwan. J Sci Food Agric 100(13):4776–4781. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.10536
Mahato DK, Kamle M, Sharma B, Pandhi S, Devi S, Dhawan K, Selvakumar R, Mishra D, Kumar A, Arora S, Singh NA, Kumar P (2021) Patulin in food: a mycotoxin concern for human health and its management strategies. Toxicon 198:12–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.04.027
Malir F, Pickova D, Toman J, Grosse Y, Ostry V (2023) Hazard characterisation for significant mycotoxins in food. Mycotoxin Res 39(2):81–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-023-00478-2
Misihairabgwi JM, Ezekiel CN, Sulyok M, Shephard GS, Krska R (2019) Mycotoxin contamination of foods in Southern Africa: a 10-year review (2007–2016). Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 59(1):43–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2017.1357003
Nan M, Xue H, Bi Y (2022) Contamination, detection and control of mycotoxins in fruits and vegetables. Toxins 14(5):309. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14050309
Pose G, Patriarca A, Kyanko V, Pardo A, Fernandez Pinto V (2010) Water activity and temperature effects on mycotoxin production by Alternaria alternata on a synthetic tomato medium. Int J Food Microbiol 142(3):348–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2010.07.017
Przybylska A, Bazylak G, Kosicki R, Altyn I, Twaruzek M, Grajewski J, Soltys-Lelek A (2019) Advantageous extraction, cleanup, and UHPLC-MS/MS detection of patulin mycotoxin in dietary supplements and herbal blends containing hawberry from Crataegus spp. J Anal Methods Chem 2019:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2159097
Ramalingam S, Bahuguna A, Kim M (2019) The effects of mycotoxin patulin on cells and cellular components. Trends Food Sci Technol 83:99–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2018.10.010
Saleh I, Goktepe I (2019) The characteristics, occurrence, and toxicological effects of patulin. Food Chem Toxicol 129:301–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.04.036
Sewram V, Nair JJ, Nieuwoudt TW, Leggott NL, Shephard GS (2000) Determination of patulin in apple juice by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 897(1–2):365–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0021-9673(00)00830-x
Sohrabi H, Arbabzadeh O, Khaaki P, Khataee A, Majidi MR, Orooji Y (2021) Patulin and Trichothecene: characteristics, occurrence, toxic effects and detection capabilities via clinical, analytical and nanostructured electrochemical sensing/biosensing assays in foodstuffs. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 62(20):5540–5568. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1887077
Tangni EK, Masquelier J, Van Hoeck E (2023) Analysis of patulin in apple products marketed in Belgium: intra-laboratory validation study and occurrence. Toxins (Basel) 15(6):368. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15060368
Xue J, Zhang W (2013) Understanding China’s food safety problem: an analysis of 2387 incidents of acute foodborne illness. Food Control 30(1):311–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2012.07.024
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment for the project on validation and analysis of multicomponent mycotoxin detection methods in various fruits and vegetables and their products (no. 20211068). We are grateful to the School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University and Professor ** Liu for providing all necessary facilities and encouragement in the work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Zhao, Y., Xu, W., Liu, R. et al. Determination and analysis of patulin in apples, hawthorns, and their products by high-performance liquid chromatography. Mycotoxin Res 40, 235–244 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-024-00522-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-024-00522-9