Multiple Mycotoxin Contamination in Mexican Raw Maize

The maize raw seed has pesticides for its conservation and quality, to avoid its consumption it is
treated with dyes that identify that it should not be used other than for planting. The objective of this
work was to identify the presence of mycotoxins in the raw seed at sowing. Two samples identified as
pink 1 and pink 2 were used, which were analyzed by LC/MS/MS. The results showed a trend of 20
mycotoxins in both samples. The aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AG2) 16.2 ng g -1, trichothecenes
(Nivalenol, Neosolanol, fusarenone X, DAS, HT-2, FB1, FB2, FB3, T-2, Zearalenone and two
derivatives a level of 242.5 ng g-1, enniantine 8.6 ng g -1, 8.7 ng g -1, Ochratoxin A, Sterigmatocystin
6.5 ng g -1. Roquefortine C, 2.5 ng g -1. In the sample Pink 2, aflatoxins 17.7 ng g -1, trichothecenes of
343 ng g -1, Ochratoxin 8.9 ng g -1, Sterigmatocystin 6.5 ng g -1, Roquefortine C, 3.3 ng g-1.
Mycophenolic acid was with the highest content of 592 and 479 ng g -1 respectively. In Addition, the
dyes in this samples could have prevented the isolation and identification of more mycotoxins. This
first monitoring carried out in this study shows the presence of multiple mycotoxins in the raw corn
seed, thus, the use of good quality raw materials significantly reduces mycotoxin contamination in
final products.