Determination of Citrine: Mycotoxin Analysis and Safety in Foods

What is Citrinin?

Citrinin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by molds, usually Penicillium and Aspergillus. This mycotoxin can pose serious risks to both human and animal health if present in food and feed.

What is Citrinin?

What are the Chemical Properties of Citrinin?

• Chemical Formula C13H14O5
• Molecular Weight: 250.25 g/mol
• Stability: Stable in acidic conditions but partially degradable during heat treatment.

What are the Sources of Citrinin ?

• It is usually found in foodstuffs such as cereals, feeds, dried fruits, cheese and coffee.
• The risk of contamination increases, especially in poor storage conditions.

What are the Health Effects?

• Acute Toxicity: May cause kidney damage.
• Chronic Exposure: May have carcinogenic effects and genotoxic properties.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have stated that citrinin exposure should be limited.

Citrinin Limits in Foods

Many countries have set maximum tolerance levels for citrinin in food.

• European Union: 200 µg/kg for cereals and cereal-based products, with lower limits for products such as infant formula.
• USA: Tolerance limits in feed and food products vary on a risk basis.

Risk Management and Precautions Against Citrinine

a) Production and Storage Conditions

• Moisture Control: The moisture content of food should be kept below 13%.
• Temperature Control: Storage should be done in cool and dry environments.
• Storage Areas: It must be clean and hygienic to prevent mold growth.

b) Regular Control and Inspection

• Foods and feeds should be analyzed for mycotoxins at regular intervals.
• Citrinin testing should be frequent, especially for high-risk products (cereals, dried fruits).

c) Consumer Education

• It is important to increase food safety awareness, ensure proper storage conditions and avoid consumption of moldy foods.

Citrinin analysis is a critical step in mycotoxin safety. Especially in cereals, feeds and processed food products, analysis with the right methods is essential to reduce health risks.

Nanolab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Citrinin Determination. We also provide services in Mycotoxin Analysis.

Contact us for more information.

You can follow us on LinkedIn for up-to-date news and posts about our services.

Follow our Instagram account to be informed about our latest blog posts.