Mycotoxins that affect the North American agri-food sector: state of the art and directions for the future

Abstract

This paper summarises workshop discussions at the 5 th international MYCORED meeting in Ottawa, Canada ( June 2012) with over 200 participants representing academics, government and industry scientists, government officials and farming organisations (present in roughly equal proportions) from 27 countries. Workshops centred on how mycotoxins in food and feed affect value chains and trade in the region covered by the North American Free Trade Agreement. Crops are contaminated by one or more of five important mycotoxins in parts of Canada and the United States every year, and when contaminated food and feed are consumed in amounts above tolerable limits, human and animal health are at risk. Economic loss from such contamination includes reduced crop yield, grain quality, animal productivity and loss of domestic and export markets. A systematic effort by grain producers, primary, transfer, and terminal elevators, millers and food and feed processers is required to manage these contaminants along the value chain. Workshops discussed lessons learned from investments in plant genetics, fungal genomics, toxicology, analytical and sampling science, management strategies along the food and feed value chains and methods to ameliorate the effects of toxins in grain on animal production and on reducing the impact of mycotoxins on population health in developing countries. These discussions were used to develop a set of priorities and recommendations.

Effect of Various Compounds Blocking the Colony Pigmentation on the Aflatoxin B1 Production by Aspergillus flavus

“…A highly hepatotoxic and carcinogenic aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is of greatest concern because it can contaminate a wide range of agricultural products that results in great losses in agricultural income and has a significant negative economic impact. A number of methods are developed for pre- and post-harvest aflatoxin management [4]. Traditional approaches, such as fungicides, have shown very limited success in the AFB1 control [5].…”

Fumonisin B1 Aptamer Optimization and Progress Towards Mycotoxin Nanoaptasensors

“…Toxin production will be higher on stressed plants or under optimal fungal growth conditions, which depend on the interaction of a number of conditions including moisture, temperature, and insect stress. 3 The main mycotoxins are summarized in Table 1.1 below with their associated toxicities and the main crops that are contaminated (Table 1.1). Mycotoxin contamination results in both post-harvest loss in crops (productivity, quality, and trade) and negative impacts on human health.…”

“…72 OTA detection is particularly challenging in foods for infants and young children due to the low tolerances by regulatory agencies. 3 The emphasis on mycotoxin residue analysis involves incorporating QuEChERS (quick easy cheap effective rugged safe) sample preparation, as well as methods for multi-mycotoxin analysis in a single method. 72 The use of synthetic molecular recognition elements (i.e.…”

“…63,1 Insect and pest control is especially important for reducing aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination on maize. 3 The European Commission has established maximum tolerable levels (MTLs) for several mycotoxins, including aflatoxin, OTA, patulin, deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), and fumonisins. 68 These regulations are based on health effects as determined from risk assessments and toxicological endpoints in sensitive animal models.…”

“…In many cases in the developing world, the PMTDI is exceeded due to a very high dietary intake of maize. 3,76,78 Up to 500 g/day of maize is consumed in many developing countries, which at a FB1 contamination level of 3 mg/kg results in a daily intake of 25 μg/kg bw/day (based on a 60 kg human) which far exceeds the PMTDI of 2 μg/kg bw/day. 76 In a study in rural Tanzania, 15% of infants (age 6-8 months) were exposed to FB1 above the PMTDI.…”