| Summary: | The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in roasted and ground coffee commercially sold in Rio de Janeiro in 2002–2003 and 2012–2013. Samples were prepared using an immunoaffinity column, and OTA was quantified by HPLC using a fluorescence detector (LOD of 0.3 µg·kg−1 and LOQ of 0.7 µg·kg−1). In total, 29 samples were collected in 2002–2003, with 12 samples containing levels below the LOD and 17 samples containing levels in the range of 0.3–5.7 µg·kg−1. In the monitoring conducted in 2012–2013, 37 samples were evaluated, with only 02 samples having levels below LOD. The remaining 35 samples had levels in the range of 0.3–3.1 µg·kg−1. OTA concentrations in all samples were lower than the maximum tolerable limit set by the Brazilian legislation (10 µg·kg−1). However, it is relevant to stress the importance of OTA control in coffee as a product consumed daily by Brazilians.
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