Studies into the occurrence of some trichothecene mycotoxins in UK home‐grown wheat and in imported wheat

Abstract A total of 199 UK home‐grown wheat samples collected over three harvests (1980–82 inclusive) and 33 imported wheat samples were analysed for the presence of seven trichothecene mycotoxins (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenon‐x, neosolaniol, diacetoxyscirpenol, HT‐2 toxin and T‐2 toxin). Analysis was performed by a gas–liquid chromatographic method and positive results greater than 0.1 mg kg−1 were confirmed by mass spectrometry. The only mycotoxin detected in any of the samples was deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) which occurred in 32 out of 199 UK home‐grown wheats at levels ranging from 0.02 to 0.40 mg kg−1 and 23 out of 33 imported wheats at levels ranging from 0.02 to 1.32 mg kg−1. Microbiological evidence suggests that the lower incidence and levels of deoxynivalenol in UK, other EEC and Western Canadian wheat compared with Eastern Canadian and Midwest US wheat may be caused by a geographical variation in the distribution of Fusarium species.