Determination of Patulin in Apple Juice Using SPE and UHPLC-MS/MS Analysis

Patulin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin that is produced by several species of fungi, such as Penicillium and Byssochlamys, and has been implicated as a possible carcinogen and teratogen, although an official designation has not yet been made. The main risk arises when unsound fruit is used for the production of juices and other processed products. The amount of patulin in apple juice is also viewed as a measure of the quality of the apples used in production. This application note outlines a simple solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure for the low level detection of patulin in apple juice.