Determination of alternaria mycotoxins in tomato: Method validation

Alternaria alternata has been identified as the most common fungal species affecting tomatoes. Contamination of tomatoes with mycotoxins produced by Alternaria species poses a significant health risk, as these toxins can accumulate in the fruit and potentially cause adverse effects when consumed by humans. Among the primary mycotoxins produced by this species and found as food contaminants are alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tentoxin (TEN). This study presents an analytical method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), for the simultaneous quantification of AOH, AME, and TEN in tomatoes. The LC-MS/MS method was validated in accordance with the EC/401/2006 and Commission Recommendation EC/2022/553. The detection and determination of alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and tentoxin was carried out by the LCMS/MS after using QuEChERS extraction . Mycotoxins were efficiently extracted from the spiked tomato samples, and the obtained results indicate that the validated method was robust and reliable.