A comparison was made between dry milling and slurry mixing as comminution step preceding mycotoxins
analysis. Such in respect to EC legislation that consists of sample schemes up to 30 kg. Cacao, green coffee,
almonds and pistachio samples of 10 kg were milled by a RAS mill and all three sub-samples were completely
analysed for aflatoxin B1 or Ochratoxin A. The differences in analytical results are explained by measurements
of particle size distributions of both milling types. The obtained data are compared with literature data on
coefficients of variation (CV) for various milling procedures. For dry milling CV values were generally not
below 20 % for aflatoxin B1 levels up to 38 μg/kg in peanuts, whereas slurry mixing could achieve CV values
below 5 % at aflatoxin B1 levels down to 4 μg/kg in pistachios. Measurements also showed possible difference
in mycotoxin content of a sample between both milling types. This could lead to false positive or negative
results when rejecting or accepting a lot, as this is based on the sample result. It was concluded that slurries
contain smaller particles than dry milled samples and thus generate the lowest possible CV values which in
turn leads to better sample homogenisation.
BS PD CEN/TR 15298:2006 history
2006BS PD CEN/TR 15298:2006 Foodstuffs — Sample comminution for mycotoxins analysis — Comparison between dry milling and slurry mixing