Predicted Aflatoxin B1 Increase in Europe Due to Climate Change: Actions and Reactions at Global Level

Abstract

Climate change (CC) is predicted to increase the risk of aflatoxin (AF) contamination in maize, as highlighted by a project supported by EFSA in 2009. We performed a comprehensive literature search using the Scopus search engine to extract peer-reviewed studies citing this study. A total of 224 papers were identified after step I filtering (187 + 37), while step II filtering identified 25 of these papers for quantitative analysis. The unselected papers (199) were categorized as “actions” because they provided a sounding board for the expected impact of CC on AFB1 contamination, without adding new data on the topic. The remaining papers were considered as “reactions” of the scientific community because they went a step further in their data and ideas. Interesting statements taken from the “reactions” could be summarized with the following keywords: Chain and multi-actor approach, intersectoral and multidisciplinary, resilience, human and animal health, and global vision. In addition, fields meriting increased research efforts were summarized as the improvement of predictive modeling; extension to different crops and geographic areas; and the impact of CC on fungi and mycotoxin co-occurrence, both in crops and their value chains, up to consumers.

Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus Co-Occurrence Influences Plant and Fungal Transcriptional Profiles in Maize Kernels and In Vitro

“…A shift between species causing Fusarium head blight on wheat in Europe, and consequently in the mycotoxin profile, was reported in Europe as a CC effect [1][2][3][4]. An unexpected outbreak of aflatoxin contamination in maize in Europe happened in 2003 [5] and this event is expected/confirmed to increase with CC [6][7][8][9]. Further, the prevalent mycotoxin in maize is variable, between years and growing areas, but the co-occurrence of different toxins is progressively highlighted [10][11][12][13][14], even in small size territories [15].…”

Risk-Benefit Assessment of Feed Additives in the One Health Perspective

“…The EU approach intends to prevent unsafe material to be recovered for use in the food chain, consistent with the general policy goal of a high level of food safety; in this framework the inherent “risk” of tools such as mycotoxin binders is to be used as replacers of good farming practices, which are a core component of the EU strategy for food safety. On the other hand, adopting a strict approach on mycotoxin binders in scenarios with a less than optimal food security, might eventually lead to wastage of resources and to a weakening of dairy chain sustainability, in particular when climate changes lead to contamination peaks ( 34 ). In such scenarios the risk managers might consider a regulated use of mycotoxin binders as an option to recover contaminated feedingstuffs.…”

“…In the EU assessment framework of feed additives, the limiting factor for mycotoxin binders appears to be the missing demonstration of benefit at the required conditions, rather than any indication of safety concerns at the proposed conditions of use; this scenario has occurred for aflatoxin binders based on bentonite (38,39). As far as potential hazards are Aflatoxin B1 as re-emerging contaminant Aflatoxin B1 contamination of feeds for dairy ruminants is re-emerging with climate changes (9,34) Presence of its metabolite Aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products Exposure to aflatoxin M1 may occur through milk, cheese and other dairy products, where the metabolite can concentrate as it is bound to the protein fraction of milk (32). The enrichment factors in diverse cheese types can be remarkably different and current regulatory limits may require updating (35) Risk analysis of aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products Aflatoxin M1 has similar toxicological characteristics as the parent compound.…”

Mycotoxins as Emerging Contaminants. Introduction to the Special Issue “Rapid Detection of Mycotoxin Contamination”

“…Mycotoxins are also emerging contaminants in traditional matrices (commodities, feedstuff) in previously atypical geographical areas due to pathogen migration caused by climate change [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. In consequence, decontamination by the use of suitably isolated metabolic enzymes capable to decompose, preferably selectively, certain mycotoxins is of great interest both from the aspects of fundamental research and technology development.…”