First Report on Mycotoxin Contamination of Hops (<i>Humulus lupulus</i> L.)
Ivana Dodlek Šarkanj,
Nada Vahčić,
Ksenija Markov,
Josip Haramija,
Natalija Uršulin-Trstenjak,
Krunoslav Hajdek,
Michael Sulyok,
Rudolf Krska,
Bojan Šarkanj
Affiliations
Ivana Dodlek Šarkanj
Department of Food Technology, University North, Trg dr. Žarka Dolinara 1, HR-48000 Koprivnica, Croatia
Nada Vahčić
Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ksenija Markov
Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Josip Haramija
Koprivnica Branch, State Inspectorate, Florijanski trg 18, HR-48000, Koprivnica, Croatia
Natalija Uršulin-Trstenjak
Department of Food Technology, University North, Trg dr. Žarka Dolinara 1, HR-48000 Koprivnica, Croatia
Krunoslav Hajdek
Department of Packaging, Recycling and Environmental Protection, University North, Trg dr. Žarka Dolinara 1, HR-48000 Koprivnica, Croatia
Michael Sulyok
Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Str. 20, AT-3430 Tulln, Austria
Rudolf Krska
Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Str. 20, AT-3430 Tulln, Austria
Bojan Šarkanj
Department of Food Technology, University North, Trg dr. Žarka Dolinara 1, HR-48000 Koprivnica, Croatia
The presence of mycotoxins and other toxic metabolites in hops (Humulus lupulus L.) was assessed for the first time. In total, 62 hop samples were sampled in craft breweries, and analyzed by a multi-toxin LS-MS/MS method. The study collected samples from craft breweries in all of the Croatian counties and statistically compared the results. Based on previous reports on Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. contamination of hops, the study confirmed the contamination of hops with these toxins. Alternaria toxins, particularly tenuazonic acid, were found in all tested samples, while Fusarium toxins, including deoxynivalenol, were present in 98% of samples. However, no Aspergillus or Penicillium metabolites were detected, indicating proper storage conditions. In addition to the Alternaria and Fusarium toxins, abscisic acid, a drought stress indicator in hops, was also detected, as well as several unspecific metabolites. The findings suggest the need for monitoring, risk assessment, and potential regulation of Alternaria and Fusarium toxins in hops to ensure the safety of hop usage in the brewing and pharmaceutical industries. Also, four local wild varieties were tested, with similar results to the commercial varieties for toxin contamination, but the statistically significant regional differences in toxin occurrence highlight the importance and need for targeted monitoring.
