Occurrence of tropane alkaloids in food

Abstract

A total of 1709 samples of plant-derived food products, mainly produced in Europe, were analysed for tropane alkaloids (TAs). The samples, of which 27.4% came from organic production, were collected from retail stores, between June 2015 and August 2016, in nine European countries (Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom). Samples analysed for the presence of 24 TAs comprised 268 single component flours (buckwheat, millet, corn), 260 cereal-based foods for young children age 6-36 months (breakfast cereals, biscuits and other cereal-based foods), 219 breakfast cereals, 164 biscuits and pastry, 114 bread, 81 pasta, 121 dry (herbal) teas, 78 legumes and stir-fry mixes. Samples analysed for six calystegines comprised 308 potato, 90 aubergine and six bell peppers. All samples were analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Two methods were developed and validated inhouse and were considered fit for purpose. The limits of quantification for the various food groups were, depending on the type of TA, 0.0067-0.0333 μg/L for tea infusion, 0.5-5 μg/kg in cereal-based products, herbal tea and vegetable products, and 1-2.5 mg/kg in potatoes and aubergines. One or more TAs were detected in 21.3% of single component flours, 20.0% of cereal-based foods for young children age 6-36 months, 6.8% of breakfast cereals, 14.6% of biscuits and pastry, 15.8% of bread, 70.2% of dry (herbal) tea, 26.2% of legumes and stir-fry mixes, 100% of potatoes and 92.7% of aubergines. No TAs were detected in pasta. The highest mean TA concentration was detected in cereal-based meals for children (130.7 µg/kg), and the maximum TA concentration of was detected in a dry herbal tea sample (4357.6 µg/kg). Atropi ne and scopolamine were the most frequently detected TAs with a maximum sum concentration of 428.5 µg/kg in a dry herbal tea.