Exposure to Mycotoxins from the Consumption of Corn-Based Breakfast Cereals in the UAE

Abstract

Corn-based breakfast cereals, known as cornflakes, have become a common breakfast choice worldwide, recognized for their convenience and versatility. However, mycotoxins can contaminate these products, potentially adversely affecting human health. This study assessed the occurrence of five mycotoxins (AFB1, OTA, DON, ZEA, and FUM) in all cornflake Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) marketed in the UAE. It also evaluated the effect of different independent variables, including country of origin, temperature on production day, storage time, and presence of chocolate, bran, and nut ingredients. It then estimated the exposure levels of the UAE population to these mycotoxins, along with associated risk factors such as HQ, MOE, liver cancer cases, and kidney disease risk. A total of 76 distinct cornflake SKUs were identified for testing using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. The mean concentrations of AFB1, OTA, ZEA, FUM, and DON among positive samples were 2.0, 1.0, 10.14, 584.9, and 90.6 μg/kg, respectively. With the exception of AFB1, the average levels of all mycotoxins in the cornflake samples remained below the established EU limits. Among positive samples, 4 (5.3%), 1 (1.3%), 1 (1.3%), and 1 (1.3%) SKUs exceeded EU limits for AFB1, OTA, FUM, and ZEA, respectively. The country of origin (developing vs. developed countries) exhibited a significant effect on AFB1 presence in cornflakes (p < 0.0001), with higher proportions of positive SKUs in developing countries. Furthermore, higher temperature on the production day was associated with significantly higher AFB1 occurrence (p=0.009). Moreover, the presence of chocolate ingredients demonstrated a slight effect on AFB1 (p=0.05) and a more pronounced effect on OTA (p=0.002), with higher percentages observed in SKUs containing chocolate. Overall, the risk of mycotoxin exposure was low, with HQ values below 1 for all toxins. While daily consumers faced higher risks for some mycotoxins, regular consumers had minimal risk. Liver cancer risk was minimal for both groups (1 liver cancer case and less than 1 case per 1,000,000 people per year, respectively). Similarly, OTA exposures were below the threshold. Besides, the necessary daily intake of cornflakes to reach the TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake) for each mycotoxin is very high across all age groups. However, the observed consumption among children, adolescents and adults remains notably below these thresholds for all mycotoxins, suggesting a safe level of cornflake consumption. Future research should investigate the co-occurrence of mycotoxins and the effect of combined mycotoxin exposures. Routine monitoring is a must to track emerging brands entering the market and to uphold food safety standards, thereby safeguarding public health.