Mycotoxins in plant-based drinks: BfR tested 162 samples with a multi-analyte method validated for 92 toxins
On 16 February 2026 the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published an updated assessment of mycotoxins in soy, almond and oat drinks. The national reference laboratory for mycotoxins and plant toxins at BfR developed and fully validated a multi-analyte method for 92 mycotoxins and plant toxins, with limits of quantification in some cases well below 1 µg/kg.
- The samples (162, of which 92 from 2024 and 70 from 2025) were bought in Berlin, choosing the products with the largest market shares. Validation followed Regulation (EU) 2023/2782; in soy drinks it covered 90 analytes because it was not possible for phomopsin A and nivalenol. The data set comprised 14 836 individual results.
- Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 31 of 39 almond drinks, ochratoxin A in 33 of 39 almond and 23 of 29 soy drinks, deoxynivalenol in 67 of 86 oat drinks, and T-2 and HT-2 toxins in all 86 oat drinks; enniatins in oat drinks and sterigmatocystin in all three drink types were also found, among others.
- Means under the “modified lower bound” approach (results below the limit of detection as zero, between the limits of detection and quantification as the limit of detection): aflatoxin B1 in almond drinks 8 ng/kg (max. 55 ng/kg), deoxynivalenol in oat drinks 2 900 ng/kg (max. 35 000 ng/kg), sum of T-2 and HT-2 470 ng/kg (max. 2 300 ng/kg).
- In one soy drink atropine and scopolamine were repeatedly found at levels at which, according to BfR, health effects must be considered; for aflatoxin B1 in almond drinks BfR rated the probability of harm in children as “medium”, and for ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol and T-2/HT-2 as low or unlikely.
Source: BfR — Stellungnahme 009/2026: Mykotoxine in Soja-, Mandel- oder Haferdrinks (16.02.2026)