Category Archives: Mold Toxin

RASFF Alerts – Mycotoxin – Ergot Alkaloids – Rye

RASFF

ergot (Claviceps purpurea) alkaloids (1069 mg/kg – ppm) in rye from Poland in Belgium

Research – The Occurrence of Aflatoxins in Nuts and Dry Nuts Packed in Four Different Plastic Packaging from the Romanian Market

MDPI

kswfoodworld

Image CDC

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various fungi. A very important category of mycotoxins are aflatoxins, considered to be the most dangerous in humans. Aflatoxin B1, well known as a favorable factor in the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in humans, is the most controversial of all mycotoxins. Aflatoxins, found in naturally contaminated food, are resistant to degradation by heat. Current food processing practices and conventional storage conditions do not completely eliminate aflatoxin contamination from the food supply chain. Long storage food products—such as peanuts, pistachio, nuts in general, and dried fruits—are susceptible to aflatoxins contamination. The type of plastic material can influence the concentration of aflatoxins during storage due to the permeability to gas and moisture exchange with the external milieu. Nuts in general and dried fruits are consumed in large quantities worldwide. Therefore, herein we investigated the effect of plastic material on the total aflatoxins and aflatoxin B1 content in 64 samples of nuts and dried fruits packed and stored in low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The method consisted in a cleanup procedure using immunoaffinity columns coupled with RIDASCREEN FAST immunoenzymatic competitive assays based on the ELISA technique. Collected data were subjected to statistical analysis and multiple comparisons tests were applied. From the total analyzed samples, 14.06% exceeded the maximum admitted European levels for total aflatoxins. The highest concentrations of total aflatoxins were obtained from samples packed in LDPE, followed by PP, PE, and PET. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in all samples packed in LDPE, PP, and PE. Most of the samples packed in PET had concentrations <1 µg/kg. These results indicate that nuts in general packed and stored in LDPE are more prone to contamination with aflatoxins, while PET is more suitable for maintaining the quality and safety of these products. View Full-Text

Germany – Delicious dried figs, 250g – Ochratoxin A

LMW

Warning type: Food
Date of first publication:December 24, 2020
Product name:

Delicious dried figs, 250g

Product pictures:

Product image.JPG

Company Eurogroup Germany GmbH

Manufacturer (distributor): Company Eurogroup Deutschland GmbH, 40764 Langenfeld Sales through branches of the REWE Group
Reason for warning:

Detection of ochratoxin A

Packaging Unit: 250 g
Durability: 04/16/2021
Lot identification: OA350020356 / 2 – 11 – 443
Further information:

Products with different best-before
dates and batches are not affected by this measure .

Further information can be found in the enclosed consumer information.

Contact to the responsible authorities:

Hesse:Schnellwarnung@rpda.hessen.de

North Rhine-Westphalia:poststelle@mulnv.nrw.de
Rhineland-Palatinate:Poststelle.Referat22@lua.rlp.de
Saxony-Anhalt:poststelle@ms.sachsen-anhalt.de
Thuringia:LM-Ueberendung@tlv.thueringen.de
Press releases and information
title Attachment or web link
Consumer information

Research -Efficient Reduction of Food Related Mould Spores on Surfaces by Hydrogen Peroxide Mist

MDPI

CDC Mould

The aim of the study was to evaluate the fungicidal effect of a H2O2 mist generating system for disinfection of spores of six food-related moulds (Alternaria alternataAspergillus flavusGeotrichum candidumMucor plumbeusPaecilomyces variotii, and Penicillium solitum) dried on stainless steel. Exposure to H2O2 mist for 2 or 4 h lead to >3 log reduction in mould spores in the majority of the tests. The presence of the soils 2% skim milk or 3% BSA did not significantly alter the fungicidal effect, while the presence of raw meat juice had an adverse fungicidal effect against Penicillium and Mucor in two out of three tests. Fungicidal suspension tests with liquid H2O2 confirmed the effectiveness of H2O2 on reducing the mould spores. Both the surface test and the suspension test indicated that P. variotii is more resistant to H2O2 compared to the other moulds tested. The study shows the efficiency of H2O2 mist on reducing food-related mould spores on surfaces. View Full-Text

RASFF Alert – Mycotoxin – Ochratoxin A – Dried Figs

European Food Alerts

RASFF

ochratoxin A (28.8 mg/kg – ppm) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF Alert – Moulds – Sesame Seeds

European Food Alerts

RASFF

sesame seeds from Nigeria, via Turkey infested with moulds in the Netherlands

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Organic Almonds – Pistachio Kernels – Dried Figs – Groundnut Kernels

European Food Alerts

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 31; Tot. = 34 µg/kg – ppb) in organic almonds from Italy in Denmark

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 38.8; Tot. = 44 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from the United States, dispatched from Turkey in Bulgaria

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 12.8; Tot. = 24.4 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs in Sweden

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 175; Tot. = 190 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Angola in Portugal

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 17.4; Tot. = 24.5 µg/kg – ppb) in organic dried figs from Spain in Denmark

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 34; Tot. = 37 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from Turkey in the Netherlands

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 64.8; Tot. = 72.2 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from Iran in Germany

Australia – Nudie nothing but 2 apples 200ml – Mycotoxin – Patulin

FSANZ

Product information

Monde Nissan Australia Pty Ltd (nudie Foods) is conducting a recall of nudie nothing but 2 apples 200ml. The product has been available for sale at independent food retailers including IGA in NSW, Vic & SA and independent food retailers in Qld, Tas & WA and Woolworths nationally.

Date markings

BEST BEFORE 18-JUNE-21
(All other Best Before dates are not affected)

nudie nothing but 2 apples 200ml

Problem

The recall is due to microbial (mycotoxin – patulin) contamination.

Food safety hazard

Food products containing the mycotoxin patulin may cause illness if consumed.

Country of origin

Australia

What to do​

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact:

Monde Nissan Australia Pty Ltd
1800 466 834
info@nudie.com.au
www.nudie.com.au

Related links:

Research – Citrinin in Foods and Supplements: A Review of Occurrence and Analytical Methodologies

MDPI

Citrinin (CIT) deserves attention due to its known toxic effects in mammalian species and its widespread occurrence in food commodities, often along with ochratoxin A, another nephrotoxic mycotoxin. Human exposure, a key element in assessing risk related to food contaminants, depends upon mycotoxin contamination levels in food and on food consumption. Commercial supplements, commonly designated as red rice, usually used in daily diets in Asiatic countries due to their medicinal properties, may pose a health problem as a result of high CIT levels. In addition to the worldwide occurrence of CIT in foods and supplements, a wide range of several analytical and detection techniques with high sensitivity, used for evaluation of CIT, are reviewed and discussed in this manuscript. This review addresses the scientific literature regarding the presence of CIT in foods of either vegetable or animal origin, as well as in supplements. On what concerns analytical methodologies, sample extraction methods, such as shaking extraction and ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE), clean-up methods, such as liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid phase extraction (SPE) and Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuECHERS), and detection and quantification methods, such as thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), biosensors, and ELISA, are also reviewed.

Germany – “NATUR favorites – Dried figs, 200 g” – Ochratoxin A

LMW


Warning type:Food
Date of first publication:December 21, 2020
Product name:

“NATUR favorites – Dried figs, 200 g”

Product pictures:

Unnamed.PNG

Press release

Manufacturer (distributor): Distributor: Frischebox GmbH, 76287 Rheinstetten Distribution via Aldi Süd in the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate
Reason for warning:

An increased content of ochratoxin-A (OTA) was found.

Packaging Unit: 200 g
Durability: Best before 20.06.2021
Lot identification: L4302 / 350058631-11-580
Further information:

Reference is made to the company’s consumer information sheet attached.

Contact to the responsible authorities:

Baden-Württemberg:

poststelle@mlr.bwl.de

Hesse:

Schnellwarnung@rpda.hessen.de

Rhineland-Palatinate:

Poststelle.Referat22@lua.rlp.de