A study in Molecules has identified the co-occurrence of patulin and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in samples of reconstituted pomegranate juice, raising questions about mycotoxin carry-over from contaminated source fruit into processed beverages.
Patulin is a mycotoxin produced primarily by Penicillium expansum, the same mold responsible for blue rot in apples and other soft fruit. While most patulin research has focused on apple juice, this study extends the analysis to pomegranate, a fruit widely marketed for its health benefits.
The authors, led by Kayisoglu and colleagues, conducted analytical determination and risk assessment to estimate exposure under realistic consumption patterns. The work underscores that mycotoxin contamination in fruit-based beverages is not limited to a single commodity.