A case report on a minor contamination of nivalenol in cereals harvested in Canada

An investigation for the occurrence of nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) in cereals (ten wheat, one rye and one corn) harvested in Canada have been carried out using a procedure, which is rapid and sensitive for Fusarium mycotoxins. NIV, DON and ZEN were detected in 4, 9 and 9 out of ten wheat samples, and their average levels in the positives were 23 ng/g, 1257 ng/g and 9 ng/g, respectively. One rye and one corn were also contaminated with a minor amount of NIV. This is the first evidence for the natural occurrence of NIV in cereals grown in Canada, though its level was far less than DON.