Category Archives: Aflatoxin

RASFF Alerts – Backdated 22/9/18 – 05/10/18 – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts – Groundnut Kernels – Pistachios – Almond Kernels -Salted and Roasted Watermelon Seeds – Popcorn in Grain – Basmati Rice – Hazelnuts – Peanut Paste – Pistachio Cream – Hazlenut Meal

Posted on October 9, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 8.7; Tot. = 8.7 / B1 = 96; Tot. = 110 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 10; Tot. = 16 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 12; Tot. = 22 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 28; Tot. = 31.2 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 18.7 µg/kg – ppb) in almond kernels from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 5.7; Tot. = 6.4 µg/kg – ppb) in salted and roasted watermelon seeds from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 17.3; Tot. = 40.7 µg/kg – ppb) and ochratoxin A (8.7 µg/kg – ppb) in popcorn in grain from France in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 7.5; Tot. = 7.5 µg/kg – ppb) in basmati rice from Pakistan in Belgium

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 10; Tot. = 11 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 6.9 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 21; Tot. = 33 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 5.0; Tot. = 6.2 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 28; Tot. = 31 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnuts from Turkey in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 85; Tot. = 98 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 38; Tot. = 46 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 8; Tot. = 20.1 / B1 = 11.5; Tot. = 18 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnuts from Turkey in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 11; Tot. = 13 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 4.2; Tot. = 6.4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 8.5 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted watermelon seeds (egusi) from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 18.1; Tot. > 24 µg/kg – ppb) in almond kernels from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 6; Tot. = 24.4 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 203; Tot. = 297 µg/kg – ppb) in peanut paste from Mali in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 17.5; Tot. = 18.6 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 36; Tot. = 39 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio cream from Switzerland, with raw material from Germany in Switzerland

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 9.9; Tot. = 11 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Georgia in Bulgaria

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 16.9 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut meal from Turkey in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 9.3 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts in shell from China in the UK

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Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mycotoxin, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Backdated 22/9/18 – 05/10/18 – Animal Feed – Aflatoxin – Groundnut Kernels

Posted on October 9, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 75.2 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from India in the UK

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed, Food Toxin, Mycotoxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

Research – Aflatoxins in cereals: State of the art

Posted on September 29, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

Recently, the contamination of food products, particularity cereals with aflatoxins (AF) as secondary metabolites generated by some of fungal genera species raised serious concerns. AF as the highly toxic compounds could pass through metabolic processes in unaltered forms and consequently accumulate in the tissues of humans and animals. The consumption of AF contaminated cereal, cereal‐based products as both food and feed is considered as a serious issue, which should be controlled through conducting prevention strategies and legislation. However, in some cases, the detoxification or elimination process also can be approached. The current article took an overview regarding physicochemical properties of AF, as well as their absorption, digestion, metabolism, and excretion in cereals. Also, the chronic and acute aflatoxicosis along prevention strategies and control mechanisms were discussed.

Practical applications

Cereal and cereal‐based products can be considered as one of the most important sources of food as well as energy in many countries. Despite this, cereals and cereal‐based foods may present contamination by several mycotoxins, as one of the challenging issues in cereal‐based products. The adverse effects of contamination by mycotoxins on food safety and food quality are reserved huge concerns. The knowledge regarding the physicochemical properties of aflatoxins as well as their control can aid the food industry to keep the quality of food products in an acceptable level.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Biotoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

Research – Mycotoxins – Mycotoxins Will Pose Greater Threat to Feed Safety, Hindering Industry Productivity and Sustainability

Posted on September 28, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Biomin

Mycotoxins that contaminate crops and animal feed have been recognized as a risk to farm animals, and account for considerable economic costs to the feed and food industries. Their widespread occurrence and related threat has been documented consistently in the BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey.

Dangers to feed safety, sustainability

“Mycotoxins are among the most important safety risks for the future livestock feed industry and security of the feed supply chain,” stated Dr Gunther Antonissen of Ghent University in Belgium.

Fungi-produced mycotoxins endanger more than feed safety and security. They also hamper productivity, adding additional cost to the feed and food industry while also affecting the environment.

“Due to their negative effects on farm animal productivity and health, mycotoxins prevent the animal protein industry from achieving an efficient and sustainable use of natural resources,” observed Dr. Wulf-Dieter Moll of the BIOMIN Research Center.

Harmful mycotoxins do not have to contaminate feed in high concentrations to make their negative effects felt in farm animals. “At present, clinical mycotoxicosis caused by high doses is rare,” explained Dr Antonissen.

“However, also the ingestion of low to moderate levels of these toxins cause an array of metabolic, physiologic and immunologic disturbances, with the gastrointestinal tract as one of the major target organs,” he added.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Biotoxin, Food Toxin, Fusarium Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Saitoxin, Tetrodotoxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

Research – Assessment of mycotoxins co‐occurrence in Italian dried figs and in dried figs‐based products

Posted on September 23, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

The possible contamination by aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisin B1 (FB1), fusaric acid (FA), and beauvericin (BEA), was investigated in 55 samples of dried figs and dried figs‐based products purchased from the South Italy (Calabria) market. A total of 41 samples showed contamination by at least one of the mycotoxins investigated. Aflatoxin B1 was found in six samples (0.19 — 8.41 μg/kg) total aflatoxins were found in 13 samples (0.5–17.12 μg/kg), OTA was found in 21 samples (<LOQ—158.58 μg/kg), FB1 was found in eight samples (153.81–5,412.96 μg/kg), BEA was found in 12 samples (<LOQ—5,708.49 μg/kg), and FA was found in 28 samples (<LOQ—74,520.20 μg/kg). The analyzed samples were contaminated with one (41.8%), two (7.3%), three (5.5%), four (10.9%), and five (5.5%) mycotoxins. To the best of our knowledge, the incidence of contamination by FA and BEA has been shown for the first time in dried figs.

Practical applications

The present work was focused on mycotoxin mixtures contamination levels of dried figs and dried figs‐based products. It is known that the co‐occurrence of mycotoxins leads to additive or synergistic effects. For some analyzed samples the AFB1, aflatoxins, and ochratoxin A (OTA) levels exceed the European Union countries legal limit. In addition, the simultaneous presence of FB1, FA, and BEA can be a potential threat to the health of consumers. Although different studies examined AFs, OTA, and Fusarium toxins as single mycotoxins in dried figs, to our knowledge, the co‐occurrence of AFs, OTA, FB1, FA, and BEA in dried figs and in dried figs‐based products samples has not been reported previously. Therefore, to prevent mycotoxins contamination, the employment of good practices in all the processing steps is necessary. Furthermore, the quality control of the ingredients used in figs preparations (spices, other dried fruits, cocoa, etc.), usually not adequately, is essential. Finally, it is of importance to establish more stringent rules to ensure food safety, even if no legal limit was still set for Fusarium toxins in dried fruit.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Fusarium Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts- Aflatoxin – Hazlenuts – Re Pepper Powder – Ground Chilli – Groundnuts – Brazil Nuts – Dried Figs

Posted on September 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 13 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Georgia in Bulgaria

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.63; Tot. = 18.34 µg/kg – ppb) in red pepper powder from Ethiopia in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 15.4 µg/kg – ppb) in ground chilli from Ethiopia in sweden

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 25; Tot. = 28 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 279; Tot. = 303 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in Denmark

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 7.8; Tot. = 8.7 µg/kg – ppb) in Brazil nuts from Bolivia, via the Netherlands in Belgium

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 8.9; Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Denmark

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Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mycotoxin, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts

Posted on September 14, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 260 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts kernel from Sudan in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 310; Tot. = 570 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from the Gambia in the Netherlands

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, microbial contamination, Microbiology, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Almonds – Groundnuts – Pistachios

Posted on September 13, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 15.7; Tot. = 17.6 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 4.0 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 13; Tot. = 15 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 7.2 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 2.8 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 25; Tot. = 62 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 25; Tot. = 28 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 86.5; Tot. = 93 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran in Greece

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 4.1; Tot. = 4.4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 2,8 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled groundnuts from Sudan in Greece

 

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Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin -Pistachios – Almonds – Fermented Banku Flour – Hazlenuts – Groundnuts

Posted on September 7, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 38.2; Tot. = 42.2 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 17.7; Tot. = 18.8 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 8.1; Tot. = 11 µg/kg – ppb) and Bacillus cereus enterotoxigenic (40000 CFU/g) in fermented banku flour from Ghana, via the Netherlands in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 91.6; Tot. = 106 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnuts from Turkey in Sweden

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 170; Tot. = 180 µg/kg – ppb) in unshelled pistachios from Iran in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 8.7; Tot. = 14) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 6.3 / B1 = 2.2 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 2.6 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

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Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Aflatoxin – Groundnut Kernels

Posted on September 7, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 0.21 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels for birdfeed from the Gambia in Belgium

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 790 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from the Gambia in Belgium

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 84 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from the Gambia in Belgium

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 78 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the Gambia in Belgium

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed, RASFF, Uncategorized