The Occurrence of Non-Regulated Mycotoxins in Foods: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review is to provide an update on the occurrence and co-occurrence of selected non-regulated mycotoxins and provide an overview of current regulations. Fifteen non-regulated mycotoxins were found in 19 food categories worldwide. On top of that, 38 different combinations of non-regulated mycotoxins were found, with mixtures varying from binary combinations up to 12 mycotoxins. Taking into consideration the amount of evidence regarding the prevalence and co-occurrence of non-regulated mycotoxins, future steps should be taken considering continuous monitoring, scientific exchange, and generation of high-quality data. To enhance data quality, guidelines outlining the minimum quality criteria for both occurrence data and metadata are needed. By doing so, we can effectively address concerns related to the toxicity of non-regulated mycotoxins. Furthermore, obtaining more data concerning the co-occurrence of both regulated and non-regulated mycotoxins could aid in supporting multiple chemical risk assessment methodologies. Implementing these steps could bolster food safety measures, promote evidence-based regulations, and ultimately safeguard public health from the potential adverse effects of non-regulated mycotoxins.

What Is Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) Resistance and What Are Its Food Safety Risks in Wheat? Problems and Solutions—A Review

“…The sharp increase in input prices also favors higher resistance where appropriate, not only to FHB but also to other diseases. The multitoxin contamination is a fact, and both the regulated and non-regulated toxins should be carefully researched to prepare for the challenges of the future [ 160 ]. This is necessary to increase the competitiveness of wheat production at home and abroad.…”

Food Safety Aspects of Breeding Maize to Multi-Resistance against the Major (Fusarium graminearum, F. verticillioides, Aspergillus flavus) and Minor Toxigenic Fungi (Fusarium spp.) as Well as to Toxin Accumulation, Trends, and Solutions—A Review

“…From these studies, we can conclude that, beyond the standard four toxins, we should also consider nivalenol, T-2, HT-2, and (maybe) OTA; the necessary list may be much longer. Non-regulated mycotoxins represent an important analysis object, and, in one study, 38 different combinations were detected, with combinations in one sample containing up to 12 mycotoxins [93]. The extent to which this is a breeding problem remains unknown, but the problem is considerable.…”