Detection of Ochratoxin A in bread samples in Shahrekord city, Iran, 2011-2012

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that possess a risk to human health due to its nephrotoxic, immunotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic properties. This study was undertaken in order to determine the presence and levels of ochratoxin A in different types of bread consumed in Shahrekord city. Eighty six samples of different types of bread purchased in March 2012 from retail bakeshops in Shahrekord city were surveyed for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) using ELISA assay. Ochratoxin A was detected in 45 out of the 86 bread samples (52.3%). Levels of OTA in positive samples ranged between 0.19 and 10.37 ng/g and the average contamination of all positive samples was 3.04 ng/g. The highest frequency of positive samples was related to machinery Taftoon (88.8%) and Lavash bread (81.8%). The most contaminated sample (5.39 ng/g) was found in the Iranian Lavash bread. Fifteen of the positive samples exceed the maximum level of 5 ng/g set by European regulations for OTA in cereal and bread. The results of this study indicated that contamination levels of ochratoxin A were high in part of the samples (17.4%). Bread and cereals are considered to be the main and predominant ingredient of Iranian food; therefore, their contamination can have long-term negative impact on people's health.