Determination of ochratoxin A levels in ivorian cocoa beans intended for exportation

The objective of this study is to monitor levels of ochratoxin A (OTA) in terms of the marketability of Ivorian cocoa beans stored at the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro. Thus, 270 samples of cocoa beans wereanalyzed. Merchantability and OTA levels were determined respectively according to the Ivorian Coffee and Cocoa stock exchange standards and the European Community regulation related to the analytical methods forthe control of mycotoxins levels in foodstuffs. As regards merchantability, a significant difference at 5% risk was revealed between the values of moisture, graining and grades. Arithmetic means for humidity wererespectively 6.7% and 6.5% for samples from the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro. The number of beans per 100 g of cocoa beans was 94 and 97 respectively for samples from ports of Abidjan and San Pedro. The classification in grades in terms of marketability indicates that respectively 87% and 89% of batches collected at ports of Abidjan and San Pedro can be marketed. Pertaining to OTA, no significant difference at 5% risk hasbeen revealed between the concentrations found in samples from both ports and between different grades. OTA concentrations obtained averaged out at respectively 0.87 ìg/kg and 0.94 ìg/kg of cocoa beans for Abidjan and San Pedro. Merchantability criteria and OTA levels in cocoa beans were loosely linked in view of flimsy values of squared correlation coefficients