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Abstract: The occurrence of ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, fumonisins and aflatoxins in a sample of 106 beers produced in several European countries, was investigated. The analyses were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection for ochratoxin A and aflatoxins, gas-chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, both coupled with mass spectrometer, for trichothecenes and fumonisins, respectively. Aflatoxins were not detected in any samples, whereas ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol and fumonisins were found in a relatively high number of samples. Their presence was at low levels in all samples; however, some differences were observed between the European countries. As regards ochratoxin A, beer samples from southern Europe showed levels always lower than 0.040μgl−1, while the samples from other European countries showed significantly higher values, up to 0.189μgl−1 (P <0.001). For fumonisins, the levels of Italian beers were significantly higher compared to the samples from other countries (P =0.006). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]