Rapid Identification of the Mycotoxin Patulin by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Patulin (PAT) is one of the most common mycotoxins produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus species and is often associated with fruits and fruit by-products, mostly apple derivatives, although it has been detected in infant food and cereals. This toxin has shown a mutagenic and carcinogenic effect. Thus, the development of rapid and accurate methods for PAT detection is of utmost importance. Currently, the most widely used methods for the analysis and detection of mycotoxins are based on chromatography, including liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled to a mass detector (GC–MS), since these techniques provide high precision, selectivity, and sensitivity. In this work we show the preliminary results in the development of a GC–MS method for the detection of PAT without derivatization. Usually, the detection of mycotoxins by GC–MS needs a derivatization of all non-volatile and polar compounds. This is one drawback of gas chromatography compared to the liquid chromatographic technique for the determination of mycotoxins. In this sense, the PAT monitoring method by GC–MS proposed here is an alternative and useful technique to maintain high-quality foodstuffs and to ensure food safety.