Molds secrete over 400 different mycotoxins, all of which are toxic to all humans. Everyone in a mycotoxin contaminated environment will have fatigue and other systemic symptoms, but may write them off to other causes. Fatigue from mycotoxin exposure indicates multisystem systemic toxicity. Even individuals with no exaggerated immune response to fungal/mold/yeast antigens, and therefore showing...

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin with carcinogenic properties. Its presence was detected in various foodstuffs all over the world but with significantly higher frequency and concentrations in areas with endemic nephropathy (EN). Even though food is often contaminated with more than one mycotoxin, earlier studies focused on the occurrence and toxicology of only OTA. Only a limited n...

This study aimed to determine the effect of gamma radiation on the preservation of phenolic compounds and on decontamination of dry herbs in terms of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), using Aloysia citrodora Paláu as a case study. For this purpose, artificially contaminated dry leaves were submitted to gamma radiation at different doses (1, 5, and 10 kGy; at dose rate of 1.7 kGy/h). P...

Numerous reviews and publications have summarized the approaches already in use and being developed to minimize mycotoxin contamination of maize (Agricultural Research Service, 1997a and 1997b; CAST, 1989; Robens, 1990; Jackson, DeVries and Bullerman, 1996; Sinha and Bhatnagar, 1998; Scott, 1998). Many of the strategies used for other commodities can generally also be applied to maize (McMullen...

The place of biotechnological detoxification in the mycotoxin prevention program The production of feeds free from mycotoxins or containing mycotoxins at levels under the tolerance limit requires the application of a mycotoxin prevention program that involves a successive series of actions consisting of multiple elements. The program starts with the selection of suitable grain varieties and end...

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungi that spoil food, and severely impact human health (e.g., causing cancer). Therefore, the rapid determination of mycotoxin contamination including deoxynivalenol and aflatoxin B1 in food and feed samples is of prime interest for commodity importers and processors. While chromatography-based techniques are well established in laboratory environm...

Emerging mycotoxins are of a great importance due to their high occurrence in foods and feeds and their implication in pathologies. There is a need to control them both in pre- and post-harvest. However, the increasing drawbacks of chemical decontamination methods, makes the use of preventive methods more attractive. These are based on avoiding growth of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxin accumu...

Mycotoxin contamination levels in maize kernels are controlled by a complex set of factors including insect pressure, fungal inoculum potential, and environmental conditions that are difficult to predict. Methods are becoming available to control mycotoxin-producing fungi in preharvest crops, including Bt expression, biocontrol, and host plant resistance. Initial reports in the United States an...

Concern for food safety has continued to grow worldwide including the issue of mycotoxin contamination of food products from farm to fork. In this regard, soya bean seeds and processed soya bean powder bought from some Nigerian markets were screened for fungal and mycotoxin contamination. Fungal identification was done by both conventional and molecular methods after samples were cultured on po...

The aim of this study was to characterize 27 feed additives marketed as mycotoxin binders and to screen them for their in vitro zearalenone (ZEN) adsorption. Firstly, 27 mycotoxin binders, commercially available in Belgium and The Netherlands, were selected and characterized. Characterization was comprised of X-ray diffraction (XRD) profiling of the mineral content and d-spacing, determination ...