Mycotoxins in Food and Feed: Present Status and Future Concerns

Abstract

Disease outbreaks due to the consumption of contaminated food and feedstuff are a recurring problem worldwide. The major factor contributing to contamination are microorganisms, especially fungi, which produce low-molecular-weight compounds as secondary metabolites, with confirmed toxic properties referred to as mycotoxins. Several mycotoxins reported to date are cosmopolitan in distribution and incur severe health-associated risks (including cancer and neurological disorders). Hence, creating awareness among consumers, as well as developing new methods for detection and inactivation is of great importance for food safety. In this review, the focus is on the occurrence of various types of mycotoxins in food and feed associated with risks to humans and livestock, as well as legislation put forth by various authorities, and on presently practiced detoxification methods. Brief descriptions on recent developments in mycotoxin detection methodology are also inlcuded. This review is meant to be informative not only for health-conscious consumers but also for experts in the field to pave the way for future research to fill the existing gaps in our knowledge with regard to mycotoxins and food safety.

Carcinogen Role of Food by Mycotoxins and Knowledge Gap

“…The most frequent toxigenic fungi in Europe are Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium (Bhat et al, 2010;Creppy, 2002), while the prevalence of specific toxins around the world is as follows: AFLs in Africa and in the Asian continent; AFLs and FUMO in Australia; AFLs, OTA, Table 2. List of mycotoxins and relative pathologies.…”

“…However, even monitoring and exercising of good agricultural and manufacturing practices (GAP and GMP) along with an effective HACCP approach might not completely avoid or eliminate mycotoxins in the food chain (Bhat, 2010;Jard et al, 2011;Zain, 2011).…”

“…Furthermore, fungal strains of Trichoderma have been demonstrated to control pathogenic molds through mechanisms such as competition for nutrients and space, fungistasis, rhizosphere modification, mycoparasitism, biofertilization and the stimulation of plantdefense mechanisms (Bhat, 2010;Jard et al, 2011;Zain, 2011).…”

“…Human adenocarcinomas and endometrial hyperplasia found in ZEA contaminated women are still under investigation (Bhat et al, 2010;Codex Alimentarius Commission, 2000;Creppy, 2002;Massart & Saggese, 2010;Zain, 2011).…”

“…Mycotoxins are classified from the a chemical viewpoint into: cyclopeptides, polycetoacids, terpenes, and nitrogenous metabolites, depending on their biological origin and structure (Bhat et al, 2010).…”