EU recommendation on monitoring of ergot alkaloids

Ergot is the sclerotium of a fungal parasite which feeds on various cereals and forms a number of highly toxic, so-called ergot alkaloids. Ergot is normally removed during the cleaning process of grains.

In a recent recommendation from the European Commission the monitoring of ergometrine, ergotamine, ergosine, ergocristine, ergocryptine and ergocornine in food and feed has been suggested. This is considered more appropriate than the physical determination of ergot.

Currently, a limit exists only for the ergot content of feed which contains unground cereals (0.1%, European Directive 2002/32/EC). Eurofins WEJ Contaminants offers the determination of the aforementioned ergot alkaloids in cereals and cereal products by LC-MS/MS.

Contact: nadjafluechter@eurofins.de