Introduction
Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced by several
fungi of Aspergillus and Pennicilium families. Its
contamination can be found in cereals and cereal
products, maize,coffee, wine and pig tissues.
Ochratoxin A is known to cause nephrotoxic effects
in human and animals (especially in pigs and dogs)
(JECFA 2001). In addition, it has been shown to
produce carcinogenic effects in rodents, and
classified in group 2A: probably carcinogenic to
human by the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC 1993). Due to its wide distribution in
human food and animal feed, and its toxic effects,
ochratoxin A contamination in food is of public
health concern and needed to be regulated. In 2002,
the Codex Committee on food additives and
contaminants established the maximal limit for
ochratoxin A in wheat , barley and rye at the level of
5 μg/kg based on the risk assessment data performed
by JECFA in 2001. JECFA recommended that more
contamination data in food from various parts of the
world are required for further risk assessment. Since
in Thailand the maximal limit specific for ochratoxin
A is not yet established, to do so it is necessary to
perform a survey of its contamination in high-risk
food group and then assess the risk. This study was
to survey the contamination level of ochratoxin A in
pig tissues in Thailand and was a part of risk
assessment of ochratoxin A in Thailand project.