Mycotoxins in Norwegian food and feed

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary fungal metabolites. A large variety of mycotoxins have been described, but only a minority of them occur regularly in feed and food items under normal conditions and pose a risk to feed and food safety. The important moulds producing toxins during storage belong to the genera of Penicillium, or Aspergillus. The most important storage toxins are probably ochratoxin A and aflatoxins. The growth of moulds and toxin production after harvest are dependent on temperature and humidity and, consequently, the most effective mitigation strategy is to maintain the commodities dry and at a low temperature during storage. Aflatoxin is normally not produced in the Norwegian climate and the occurrence is restricted to imported feed and food. Ochratoxin A is produced by Penicillium spp and Aspergillus spp. Occurrence of ochratoxin A in selected commodities is included in the national food and feed surveillance programs. Only low concentrations of ochratoxin A have been found in compound feed as well as in feed ingredients [1-5]. It is concluded that the procedures for handling of feed seem to be sufficient to limit the production of ochratoxin A. Elevated levels of ochratoxin A are occasionally reported from dried food items, including dried fruits and coffee beans. The fungi producing aflatoxin are generally restricted to a tropical climate. Consequently, aflatoxins in Norwegian feed and food are mainly limited to imported feed, food and ingredients. The main aflatoxin sources in feed have been maize and maize-derived feed ingredients, but the levels in compound feed have been low [1-5]. Aflatoxins do not constitute a high risk to animal health nor to human health through transfer to humans through consumption of animal-derived food products in Norway. The toxin occurs in imported dried food items such as dried figs and nuts, but the results from the present control regime shows that the risk to human health due to consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foods is limited.