Survey of ochratoxin A in South African wines
Date
2002
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Society for Enology and Viticulture
Abstract
The mycotoxin, ochratoxin A (OTA), an important nephrotoxin, teratogen and carcinogen, is mainly produced as a secondary metabolite of Aspergillus and Penicillium species. The mycotoxin is a common contaminant of various feedstuffs and of foodstuffs such as grains, coffee and wine. The levels of OTA have been established in 122 South African wines, representative of a variety of wine cultivars from various wine-producing regions of the country. The method of analysis was based on the method of Visconti et al. (1999): it consisted of immunoaffinity clean up, quantification on reversed phase HPLC with fluorescence detection and confirmation of the presence of OTA by synthesising its methyl ester. The levels of OTA of most of the red and white wines were substantially lower than the maximum permissible levels of OTA in wines, as suggested by the European Union. However, high levels of OTA were found in a few noble late harvest wines. This first comprehensive survey unambiguously shows that OTA presents no cause for concern to the South African wine industry.
Description
CITATION: Stander, M. A. & Steyn, P. S. 2002. Survey of ochratoxin A in South African wines. South African Journal of Enology & Viticulture, 23(1):9-13, doi:10.21548/23-1-2149.
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajev
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajev
Keywords
Mycotoxins, Ochratoxins, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Wine and wine making -- South Africa
Citation
Stander, M. A. & Steyn, P. S. 2002. Survey of ochratoxin A in South African wines. South African Journal of Enology & Viticulture, 23(1):9-13, doi:10.21548/23-1-2149