Frequency of ochratoxin A in bread consumed in Shahrekord

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is mycotoxins that possess a risk to human health due to its nephrotoxic, immunotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic effects. This study was undertaken to determine the presence and levels of ochratoxin A in different types of bread consumed in Shahrekord. In this descriptive study, eighty six samples of different types of bread purchased from March to December 2011 from retail bakeshops in Shahrekord was surveyed for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) using ELISA method. 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 2.61± 1.47 ng/g. Fifteen of the positive samples exceed the maximum level of 5 ng/g set by European regulations for OTA in cereals and bread. Seasonal evaluation of the data did not indicate a significant difference in contamination levels. It is therefore important to monitor the level of OTA in cereals especially wheat and to devise mechanisms to improve their quality in such a way that reduce OTA contamination of bread.