Tosun, HYildiz, HObuz, ESeçkin, AK2024-07-182024-07-181939-32101939-3229http://akademikarsiv.cbu.edu.tr:4000/handle/123456789/2310In this study, ochratoxin A (OTA) in 55 home-made, 20 commercial and 7 organic grape pekmez (grape molasses) produced in Turkey was investigated. OTA was detected in 73% of home-made pekmez samples, in 35% of commercial pekmez samples and in 71% of organic pekmez samples. Eleven per cent of the samples had OTA levels higher than 10 mu g/l. The highest OTA level (31 mu g/l) was detected in organic pekmez. The maximum OTA levels were 15 mu g/l and 12 mu g/l in home-made and commercial pekmez samples, respectively. Mean OTA levels were 3.5 mu g/l, 1.4 mu g/l and 9.2 mu g/l in home-made, commercial and organic pekmez samples, respectively. Organic pekmez samples and home-made pekmez samples had higher OTA contamination than commercial pekmez samples. Results confirm OTA contamination in grape pekmez samples, indicating that the OTA level in grape pekmez could be a potential risk for consumers.EnglishArticle