Mycotoxin Residues in Chicken Breast Muscle and Liver

Abstract

The global increase in chicken meat production and consumption has heightened concerns regarding the safety of chicken meat and its derived products. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Penicillium and Aspergillus mycotoxins in 50 samples of chicken breast muscle and liver collected from the Croatian market. Eight mycotoxins commonly produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species were analyzed: aflatoxins B₁ (AFB₁), G₁ (AFG₁), B₂ (AFB₂), and G₂ (AFG₂); sterigmatocystin (STC); ochratoxin A (OTA); cyclopiazonic acid (CPA); and citrinin (CIT). Mycotoxin concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) following sample cleanup with immunoaffinity columns while a QuEChERS-based method was applied for CPA. Mycotoxin occurrence was higher in liver samples, indicating the liver as primary site of mycotoxin accumulation compared to muscle tissue, where only CPA was detected. CPA was present in 20% of all samples, with the highest concentration (6.50 µg/kg) found in breast muscle, detected for the first time in fresh meat. AFB₁ and OTA were each detected in 10% of samples, and CIT was found in 4%-all exclusively in liver tissue. Notably, 4 out of the 17 contaminated samples contained more than one mycotoxin. Although the detected concentrations can be considered too low to pose an immediate health risk, the contamination rate suggests further research into these mycotoxins in chicken and other poultry species is needed.

Keywords: LC-MS/MS; aflatoxins; citrinin; contaminants; cyclopiazonic acid; meat; ochratoxin A; poultry; sterigmatocystin.