Abstract: In this study, 17 deoxynivalenol (DON) contaminated wheat samples were assessed for safety and quality index such as unit weight, water absorption of gluten, crude protein content, unsound kernel content, sprouted kernel content, gibberella damaged kernel content and insect infested kernel content as well as the pollution status of DON and heavy metals. Furthermore, the relationship between the content of DON in wheat grains and other parameters was analyzed. The impact of the processing of gluten and starch in the break and reduction systems on the level of DON contamination was examined. The results showed that the pollution level of DON in wheat samples had a good linear correlation with unit weight, water absorption of gluten, crude protein content, unsound kernel content, sprouted kernel content, gibberella damaged kernel content and insect infested kernel content. The correlation between gluten water absorption and the content of DON was not significant, indicating that DON content could not affect the storage quality of wheat. Additionally, it was found that the heavy metals As and Cd as well as the elements Ca and P were not significantly correlated with DON content, but only Ca in whole wheat flour was correlated with the content of DON. The levels of DON in gluten and starch from the break and reduction systems, respectively were both lower than 200 µg/kg, indicating that wheat with DON over-standard can be used commercially for the preparation of gluten or starch.

Key words: wheat; contaminated grains; deoxynivalenol; multiple linear regression; product application