Influence of locality on Slavonian sausage safety and quality

Slavonska kobasica je trajna kobasica koje se u seoskim domaćinstvima u Slavoniji proizvodi tradicionalnom tehnologijom, pri kojoj se tijekom zrenja na ovitku proizvoda mogu razviti plijesni. Cilj je ovog rada bio identificirati površinske plijesni i utvrditi njihov utjecaj na kvalitetu i zdravstvenu sigurnost proizvoda, uključujući pojavnost mikotoksina okratoksina A (OTA) i aflatoksina B1 (AFB1). Tijekom rada komunicirano je sa šest proizvodnih lokaliteta na području Slavonije. Pripremljeno je 18 uzoraka slavonske kobasice koje su analizirane na kraju proizvodnog procesa u trajanju od tri mjeseca. Ukupno je identificirano 8 različitih vrsta plijesni, među kojima je dominirao rod Penicillium (88,89 %). Osim šest Penicillium vrsta, izolirana je po jedna vrste iz rodova Aspergillus (8,33 %) i Mucor (2,78 %). Identificirani su i mogući izvori OTA i AFB1, Penicillium verrucosum i Aspergillus flavus, a određena je samo prisutnost OTA i to u koncentraciji od 5,10 μg/kg.Slavonian sausage is a cured sausage produced on rural holdings using traditional technology, in which moulds are permitted to develop on the product surface during the maturation period. The purpose of this study was to identify the surface moulds and determine their influence on product quality and safety, including the occurrence of the mycotoxins ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), from six production facilities in the Slavonia region. A total of 18 samples of Slavonian sausage were prepared and analysed at the end of the production process, i.e., after three months. A total of eight species of mould were identified, and the dominant genus was Penicillium (88.89%) with six species, one species from the genus Aspergillus (8.33%) and one species from the genus Mucor (2.78%). Possible causative agents of OTA and AFB1 were identified, Penicillium verrucosum and Aspergillus flavus, though only the presence of OTA was confirmed in a concentration of 5.10 μg/kg