Detection, Distribution and Prevalence of Toxigenic Zearalenone in Food for Human and Animal Consumption in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Humans most often ingest mycotoxins through food, but in some incidents, they can be inhaled, passed through the skin, or parenteral exposure. Mycotoxins can have carcinogenic, mutagenic, immunotoxic, and teratogenic properties. In the period from 2024, a total of 116 samples (51 samples of baby food, 32 samples of nuts and 16 cereal samples, and 17 feed samples) were analyzed for zearalenone (ZEA) using enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Among food for children (51 samples), zearalenone was detected in the range of 2.471 to 13.455 μg/kg. In nuts, zearalenone was detected in the range of 2.863 to 122.420 μg/kg. Almond samples were contaminated with a range of 3.762–19.576, followed by walnut samples (10; 31.2%), positive samples, and hazelnut samples (8; 25.0%). Among 16 cereal samples, zearalenone was detected in the range from 2.139 to 3.294 μg/kg: six oatmeal flakes (37.5%; mean 2.520 μg/kg), followed by four mix flakes (25.0%; mean 2.915 μg/kg), three rye flakes (18.75%; mean 2.583 μg/kg), two barley flakes (12.5%; mean 2.467 μg/kg) and one soy flake with a concentration of 2.791 μg/kg. Among animal feed, 11 out of 17 maize corn samples (64.71%) were contaminated with zearalenone, while none of the other feed samples showed contamination. In some EU member countries, national regulations have been introduced that define reference values for certain products intended for human consumption. However, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are still no regulations or prescribed reference values for mycotoxins, for example, for dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, cream, etc. To suppress the concentration of mycotoxins to the lowest level, it is necessary to put under regular supervision and control the detection of molds in all stages of production, from collection, transport, processing, storage and sale of food where they can grow and survive.