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Ochratoxin A in Cocoa beans and cocoa based beverages in Nigeria: Traceability from farmgate to export outlet
Abstract
A study on Ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination was carried out on cocoa beans and cocoa based beverages commercialized in Nigeria using direct sensitive ELISA test. A total of 17 samples from shops and factories representing samples from farms, stores, port, processing sites and
finished products from retailers were collected. Cocoa beans and cocoa-based beverages were taken for mycobiota determination using serial dilution method on SDA. The most encountered mould isolated was Aspergillus niger. The results showed that all samples screened, were contaminated with detectable amounts of OTA using sensitive ELISA
technique. The obtained concentrations ranged from 0.95 to 33.6 ug /kg. Both processed and unprocessed samples contained at least 20% of OTA concentration .5 ug /kg being the EU regulatory limit for OTA in food samples.
finished products from retailers were collected. Cocoa beans and cocoa-based beverages were taken for mycobiota determination using serial dilution method on SDA. The most encountered mould isolated was Aspergillus niger. The results showed that all samples screened, were contaminated with detectable amounts of OTA using sensitive ELISA
technique. The obtained concentrations ranged from 0.95 to 33.6 ug /kg. Both processed and unprocessed samples contained at least 20% of OTA concentration .5 ug /kg being the EU regulatory limit for OTA in food samples.
