LAUSR

Abstract Mycotoxins are abiotic hazards produced by certain fungi that can grow on apples. Consequently, their prevalence in apple and appple products may be relatively high. In this study, 205 healthy apples and 104 rotten apples from three provinces of China (Liaoning, Hebei and Shandong), as well as 107 apple products purchased from Chinese local and online markets, were used to analyze 7 mycotoxins. The results showed that none of the mycotoxins were found in healthy apples. Six mycotoxins (patulin, alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, altenuene, tentoxin and tenuazonic acid) were detected in rotten apples and apple products, and patulin was the most common and frequent one. Contamination levels of patulin, altenuene, tentoxin and tenuazonic acid were significant difference in different parts of rotten apples among three provinces. Mycotoxin co-occurrence was common in rotten apples and apple products, and the rates of rotten apples and apple products contaminated by two or more mycotoxins were 73.08% and 4.67%, respectively.