Study of the Occurrence of Ochratoxin A in Green Coffee Beans

Abstract Moldy green coffee beans were found to contain Aspergillus ochraceus and detectable levels of ochratoxin A. The official first action method for the detection of ochratoxins in barley, 26.C15–26.C22, was modified for analysis of coffee beans and a number of survey samples of coffee beans were analyzed. A. ochraceus was found to be present in almost all samples but ochratoxin A was infrequently observed. Ochratoxin A production in sterile green coffee beans inoculated with A. ochraceus under optimal conditions was maximal at 13 days at room temperature but the total amount was low (450 μg/kg). Considerable destruction (approximately 80%) of ochratoxin A occurred during a heat treatment which simulated the roasting of coffee beans.