RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6.9 µg/kg – ppb) and ochratoxin A (60 µg/kg – ppb) in soya chunks from India, via the United Kingdom in Switzerland
RASFF – aflatoxins (Tot. = 13 µg/kg – ppb) in diced dried figs from Turkey in France
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6.8; Tot. = 8.2 / B1 = 7.4; Tot. = 8.4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Egypt in the Netherlands
Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, RASFF, Uncategorized
Aspergillus carbonarius is one of the major Ochratoxin A (OTA) producing fungus. Nyjer and flax seeds are important oilseeds that are used for both human and animal consumption, but they are highly susceptible to fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination. The objectives of this study were to determine the growth and OTA production by A. carbonarius on ground nyjer and flax seeds with water activity levels ranging from 0.82 to 0.98 aw at three incubation temperatures (20, 30, 37°C). It was found that A. carbonarius was not able to grow on the two types of oilseeds with 0.82 or 0.86 aw. Also, the fungus was not able to grow on flax seeds with high water activity (0.98 aw). The OTA was only detected on flax seed samples with 0.94 aw at 20°C. On nyjer seeds, the highest concentration of OTA (271 μg/kg) was detected from samples with 0.98 aw incubated at 20°C for 5 days, while on flax seeds the highest OTA (146 μg/kg) was found on the seed samples with 0.94 aw incubated at 20°C for 15 days. Linear regression models also indicated that 0.98 aw was optimal for both fungal growth and OTA production on nyjer seeds. Overall, ground nyjer seed is better than flax seed to support growth and OTA production by A. carbonarius .
This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of 16 well-recognized and emerging mycotoxins in black and white sesame seed samples sold in Thailand and to evaluate possible health risks to consumers. Samples were extracted and cleaned with a modified QuEChERS procedure. Multiple mycotoxins in sesame seed samples were analyzed with a validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. The risk of mycotoxin exposure via dietary intake of sesame seeds was evaluated based on the hazard quotient, margin of exposure (MOE), and quantitative liver cancer risk established by European Food Safety Authority, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Of the 200 samples, 21.5% were contaminated with mycotoxins, 19.5% were contaminated with a single mycotoxin, and 2% were contaminated with multiple mycotoxins. Although 9% of total samples were contaminated with aflatoxins (AFs), only one black sesame seed sample and one white sesame seed sample were above the regulatory limits for the European Union (2 μg/kg). The MOE values derived from consumption of black and white sesame seeds were generally <10,000, especially in the group consuming the most. The number of liver cancer cases over a lifetime associated with AFB1 exposure based on the upper bound values for the group consuming high level of black and white sesame seeds (97.5 percentile) was estimated at more than 1 case per one million persons. Therefore, a potential risk to consumer health exists through the consumption of black and white sesame seeds and subsequent exposure to AFB1. However, further evaluation with larger sample sizes is necessary for more accurate calculations. Continuous monitoring of mycotoxin contamination in sesame seeds with risk assessments is recommended.
RASFF – deoxynivalenol (DON) (1063.39 µg/kg – ppb) in wheat flour from Ukraine in Slovakia
Posted in deoxynivalenol, DON, Food Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Toxin, Uncategorized
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 32; Tot. = 90 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Spain in Portugal
RASFF – ochratoxin A (3.88 µg/kg – ppb) in red wine from Italy in Germany
Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Temperature Abuse, Food Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, RASFF, Uncategorized
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 40.6 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in Germany
Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Uncategorized
Dog owners in Nairobi and Nakuru are distraught after six of their dogs died from aflatoxin poisoning in the past month.
They say their dogs started experiencing liver complications after consuming commercial dog food they had bought from supermarkets.
“We bought the same brand of dog food we have been always buying, but this time from a different supermarket. The dog food pellets consisted of maize, fish and omega-3,” Eustace, a dog owner in Loresho, said.
The dog, a pug breed, refused to eat for several days after consuming the food and subsequently developed jaundice.
“His eyes, mouth and tongue had turned yellow and he was weak. The vet came in the middle of the night to take him and later called me to say he had suffered liver damage due to aflatoxin poisoning,” Eustace said.
In April 2004, one of the largest aflatoxicosis outbreaks occurred in rural Kenya, resulting in 317 cases and 125 deaths. Aflatoxin-contaminated homegrown maize was the source of the outbreak, but the extent of regional contamination and status of maize in commercial markets (market maize) were unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the extent of market maize contamination and evaluate the relationship between market maize aflatoxin and the aflatoxicosis outbreak. We surveyed 65 markets and 243 maize vendors and collected 350 maize products in the most affected districts. Fifty-five percent of maize products had aflatoxin levels greater than the Kenyan regulatory limit of 20 ppb, 35% had levels > 100 ppb, and 7% had levels > 1,000 ppb. Makueni, the district with the most aflatoxicosis case-patients, had significantly higher market maize aflatoxin than did Thika, the study district with fewest case-patients (geometric mean aflatoxin = 52.91 ppb vs. 7.52 ppb, p = 0.0004). Maize obtained from local farms in the affected area was significantly more likely to have aflatoxin levels > 20 ppb compared with maize bought from other regions of Kenya or other countries (odds ratio = 2.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-6.59). Contaminated homegrown maize bought from local farms in the affected area entered the distribution system, resulting in widespread aflatoxin contamination of market maize. Contaminated market maize, purchased by farmers after their homegrown supplies are exhausted, may represent a source of continued exposure to aflatoxin. Efforts to successfully interrupt exposure to aflatoxin during an outbreak must consider the potential role of the market system in sustaining exposure.
Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning Death, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Research, Uncategorized
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 19.6 / Tot. = 24.1 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in the UK
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.9 / Tot. = 9.2 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands
RASFF – aflatoxins (Tot. = 4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in Spain
RASFF – aflatoxins (Tot. = 62 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in the UK
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 27.5; Tot. = 30.3 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from Iran in Italy
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 26.4 µg/kg – ppb) in chilli powder from India in Slovenia
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 20.6 µg/kg – ppb) in organic brown rice from Pakistan, packaged in Denmark in Sweden
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6.9; Tot. = 7.4 µg/kg – ppb) and ochratoxin A (82 µg/kg – ppb) in chilli powder from China in Germany
RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 15.9; Tot. = 18.5 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled pistachios from Iran, dispatched from the United Arab Emirates in Italy
FoodWorld 