Tropane alkaloids in food and feed - Eurofins Scientific AG
Analytics:
Eurofins experts from the Competence Center for Mycotoxins and Plant Toxins offer the determination of the most important tropane alkaloids1 atropine (sum of (+)- and (-)-hyoscyamine) and scopolamine in relevant food and feed matrices by liquid chromatography (LC-MS/MS). The EU requirements for analytical limits of quantification are met. In addition to atropine and scopalamine, we also offer the analysis of the tropane alkaloids anisodamine, norscopolamine and convolvin in cereals, tea and herbal tea.
Legal requirements:
Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 sets the maximum levels for atropine and scopolamine at limits of 1.0 µg/kg each for cereal and maize-based baby foods and other foods for infants and young children. Additional maximum levels for millet and sorghum millet, corn, buckwheat and herbal tea have been in effect since September 1, 2022.
Switzerland - Update 2024
Following products have new limit values starting from February 2024:
- Buckwheat
- Millet
- Herbal tea
- Herbal tea from aniseed
- Ground buckwheat products
- Milled products from millet, sorghum millet and maize
- Maize
- Popcorn maize
- Sorghum millet
Presence of these substances:
Tropane alkaloids (TA) are produced by various plant groups as secondary metabolites. More than 200 TA have already been identified. Plants containing TAs can contaminate various foodstuffs and animal feeds when growing close to crops. The risk of contamination increases when the seeds of the crop and the TA-containing plant resemble each other. For example, the TA-containing seeds of datura closely resemble the cultivated pseudocereal buckwheat.
According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), tropane alkaloids are of particular toxicological relevance in cereals and cereal-based baby foods, buckwheat, millet, oilseeds such as flax and sunflower, soy products and herbal teas.
TAs occur naturally in the angiosperm family:
- Brassicaceae (crucifers)
- Solanaceae (Solanaceae)
- Erythroxylaceae (redwood plants)
- Convolvulaceae (bindweeds)
- Euphorbiaceae (euphorbias)
- Proteaceae
- Rhizophoraceae (mangrove plants)
Among these, the Brassicaceae and Solancaceae are best known for their many edible genera. The Erythroxylaceaen and Rhizophoracea families, on the other hand, have no genera of importance for food.
1 These analyses are performed in an accredited Lab within the Eurofins Network of Laboratories. The list is not exhaustive.