Category Archives: Aflatoxin

Neogen New Mycotoxin Kits

Posted on January 18, 2012 by | 2 comments

Neogen develops simple, fully quantitative tests for Mycotoxins.

AYR, Scotland, 16 January, 2012 — Neogen Europe Ltd. has developed a range of simple tests to detect precise amounts of Mycotoxins in grain and feed samples.

Neogen’s new Reveal® Q+ testing products combine the speed and simplicity of a lateral flow test with the fully quantitative precision of a more demanding testing method. All a tester has to do is place a Reveal Q+ test strip in a room temperature extracted sample, and then read the strip to receive precise results.

The new products include:
• Reveal Q+ for Aflatoxin can deliver precise results of 2.5 to 100 parts per billion (ppb) of Aflatoxin after only 6 minutes.
• Reveal Q+ for DON delivers precise results ranging from 0.3 to 6 parts per million (ppm) of DON after only 3 minutes, following an extraction procedure that requires only water.
• Reveal Q+ for Zearalenone delivers precise results ranging from 50 to 1200 ppb of Zearalenone in corn, or 25-1200 ppb of the Mycotoxins in wheat after only 6 minutes.

“Our Reveal Q+ products are the easiest Mycotoxins tests available that provide rapid, fully quantitative test results,” said Neogen’s Dr. Steve Chambers, Sales & Marketing Director. “This innovative technology yields more accurate and reproducible results than other Mycotoxins testing methods. The new Reveal Q+ products add to Neogen’s unmatched range of simple and accurate lateral flow, microwell, and immunoaffinity column mycotoxin testing options — all of which are backed by the best technical and R&D support in the industry.”

Reveal Q+ products offer both room temperature incubation of the test strip and storage of the test kit — eliminating the need for an incubator and refrigeration space. The tests require only minimal equipment to achieve precise results, and aflatoxin and Zearalenone tests use a simple, low-cost ethanol extraction process. Ethanol is the preferred extraction solvent of many major grain handlers.

Neogen’s AccuScan® III reader provides an easy method to objectively read, store, and analyze results from Neogen’s line of lateral flow tests. AccuScan provides a permanent result that can be incorporated into a company’s food safety plan, such as HACCP.

For further information Contact:
Int. Tel: +44 (0) 1292 525 610 Int.
e-mail: info_uk@neogeneurope.com
www.neogeneurope.com

2 Comments

Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, Mycotoxin

Chinese Food Safety Issue – Mycotoxins in Cooking Oil

Posted on January 2, 2012 by | 1 comment

AFP Post

Chinese authorities have recalled cooking oil products made by three companies after finding they contained the same type of cancer-causing toxin recently found in milk, state media said Thursday.

A product safety watchdog in the southern province of Guangdong suspended operations at plants owned by the firms, which made oil containing excessive levels of aflatoxin, caused by mould.

The incident comes after leading dairy firm Mengniu revealed at the weekend that authorities found high levels of aflatoxin in a batch of milk before it was sold, caused by cows eating mouldy feed at a farm in southwest China.

Aflatoxins, which affect grains and other agricultural products, can increase the risk of cancer, including liver cancer, according to the World Health Organisation.

The oil was made from peanuts, Xinhua said, naming the producers as Fusheng Oil, Manyi Peanut Oil and Mabao Oil.

It was not known if any of the tainted oil had reached consumers, it added.

 

1 Comment

Posted in Aflatoxin, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Recall

Aflatoxins in Pet Food – USA

Posted on December 29, 2011 by | Leave a comment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted two dog food recall notices on its website Wednesday, including one dated Dec. 12 and an “updated” alert dated Dec. 14, more than two weeks ago.
 
Both recalls of dry dog food were the result of elevated levels of aflatoxin, caused by fungus on grains such as corn that in significant quantities can cause liver damage in pets. These recalls are apparently related to the Dec. 7 announcement by manufacturer Cargill Animal Nutrition that it was pulling dry dog food off the market because of excess amounts of aflatoxin.
 
Aflatoxin, which cannot exceed 20 parts per billion under FDA standards, has been found in levels above that in dog food produced at Cargill’s plant in LeCompte, LA and in Iams puppy food manufactured by Proctor and Gamble in Henderson, N.C. Advanced Animal Nutrition recalled its Dog Power food, also for elevated aflatoxins.
 
All the companies have said that, to date, no illnesses or adverse affects have been reported in connection with the recalled dog food, but did not explain why dog food was on the market for more than a year before it was tested for aflatoxins.
 
This may be of interest to producers of Pet Foods within the UK market.
 

Leave a comment

Posted in Aflatoxin, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Mycotoxin, Recall