Category Archives: Mycotoxin

Tanzania – Suspected aflatoxin outbreak reported in Tanzania

Posted on August 21, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

A suspected aflatoxicosis outbreak is being reported in Tanzania. The World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of the situation by the Ministry of Health in late June.

Since June 1, sporadic cases, presenting with symptoms and signs on abdominal distention, jaundice, vomiting, swelling of lower limbs, with a few cases of fever and headache, from Dodoma and Manyara Regions in Tanzania.

As of Aug. 11, a total of 53 cases and 8 deaths have been reported as from Chemba, Kondoa and Kiteto Districts. The situation is under investigation.

Aflatoxin is a potent toxin and a very serious health issue in many parts of the developing world. Major outbreaks have been seen in Africa, India, Malaysia and Taiwan over the years.

This mycotoxin is a natural toxin produced as a secondary metabolite to certain strains of the fungus Aspergillus, in particular Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.

The toxin is then excreted onto plants or pre-processed foods, some intended for human consumption.

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

Summary of the last two weeks RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Blanched Groundnut Kernels – Basmati Rice -Ground Cumin -Nutmeg – Groundnuts- Peanuts – Coconut Oil – Peanut Halva

Posted on August 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 8.3; Tot. = 9.7 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched groundnut kernels from China in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 3.60 µg/kg – ppb) in basmati rice from the Netherlands in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 8.82; Tot. = 12.19 µg/kg – ppb) in ground cumin from Portugal in Luxembourg

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 20; Tot. = 35 µg/kg – ppb) in nutmeg from Grenada in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 8.5; Tot. = 9 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 186; Tot. = 198 µg/kg – ppb) in peanuts in shell from the United States in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 8; Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in coconut oil from India in switzerland

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.5; Tot. = 8.6 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled groundnuts from the United States in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 13.2; Tot. = 15.2 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 1.9 µg/kg – ppb) in peanut halva from Ukraine in Lithuania

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 3.1 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts with shell from China in Spain

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

Summary of the last two weeks RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Raisins – Blanched Groundnut Kernels

Posted on August 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF – ochratoxin A (20.2 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from Turkey in the UK

RASFF – ochratoxin A (25 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched groundnut kernels from India in the Netherlands

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

Research – Deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A in North Carolina grown organic wheat grains

Posted on August 7, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

The main safety issue of cereal grains is mycotoxin contamination. There is no published information about mycotoxin contamination of organic wheat in the United States. This study quantified the contents of deoxynivalenol (DON) and ochratoxin A (OTA), two frequently occurring mycotoxins, in organic wheat samples collected from six counties in North Carolina by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). By ELISA, all samples were DON and OTA positive, and the DON contents in the flour and bran samples were 0.7–2.35 ppm and 5–8 ppm, respectively, while OTA in the flour and bran samples were 9.54–25.55 ppb and 21.67–32.55 ppb, respectively. By HPLC, the DON detected in flour and bran were 0.24–0.47 ppm and 0.35–0.83 ppm, respectively; all flour samples were OTA negative, but 5 out of 6 bran samples were OTA positive (0.48–1.28 ppb). More studies with larger sample number are needed to obtain representative results.

Practical applications

This study provides preliminary results about the DON and OTA in organic wheat grains. The results indicate that the organic wheat produced in North Carolina during 2018 season were contaminated by DON and OTA to various degrees. However, the concentrations of these two mycotoxins determined by ELISA were significantly higher than those determined by HPLC. Therefore, to avoid overestimation or underestimation, it is important for researchers and regulatory agencies to conduct multi‐lab studies to develop and standardize analytical methods and detailed procedures for accurate DON and OTA quantification. Regardless of analytical methods, all bran samples showed higher DON and OTA concentrations than flour samples. Thus, when using organic wheat bran or whole wheat as food or feed ingredients, the level of bran inclusion should be controlled to protect consumers and animals from mycotoxicosis.

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Posted in DON, Food Toxin, mold, Moulds, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Raisins – Pistachios – Raisin Fruit Filling – Dried Grapes –

Posted on August 2, 2019 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF – ochratoxin A (20.6 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from Turkey in the UK

RASFF – ochratoxin A (71 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF – ochratoxin A (18 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from Turkey in France

RASFF – ochratoxin A (19.7 µg/kg – ppb) in raisin fruit filling from the Czech Republic in the Czech Republic

RASFF – ochratoxin A (17 µg/kg – ppb) in dried grapes from Turkey in France

RASFF – ochratoxin A (53 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from the United States in the Netherlands

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

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Blanched Groundnuts – Shelled Peanuts – Nutmeg – Peanuts

Posted on August 2, 2019 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 11.0; Tot. = 12.7 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched groundnut kernels from China in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 204; Tot. = 244 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled peanuts from Angola in Portugal

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 12; Tot. = 12 µg/kg – ppb) in nutmeg from Indonesia in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.1; Tot. = 8.6 µg/kg – ppb) in peanuts from Brazil in Spain

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

Information -Aflatoxins prompt increased EU checks on US peanuts

Posted on July 29, 2019 by | Leave a comment

IEG Policy

The EU is stepping up the frequency of controls for aflatoxins in US peanut consignments after a spate of notifications through its Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), reveals the latest update to the bloc’s high risk import list in an annex to a 2009 regulation (669/2009).

 

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

USA – Animal Feed Recalled Due to Aflatoxin Test Results Exceeding FDA Action Levels

Posted on July 29, 2019 by | Leave a comment

WebWire

In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted information about one company’s voluntary recall of 14 animal feed products produced in late 2018 and early 2019. The products were produced for consumption by everything from cows and horses to sheep and poultry.

According to the recall notice, the feed manufacturer first learned of the issue when it received notification from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture of test results showing that a single lot of a specific product contained elevated levels of aflatoxin. The recall involved products manufactured and sold in the eastern United States. These products were removed from retail shelves earlier this year and the company reports no adverse health effects to animals had been reported at the time of the recall notice.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Mycotoxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts -Peanut Butter – Mixed Nuts – Dried Fig Cubes – Cayenne Pepper – Hazlenut Kernels – Pistchios – Chilli Powder – Dried Figs

Posted on July 26, 2019 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 2.6; Tot. = 3.3 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts with shell from Argentina in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 149.1; Tot. = 168.55 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in Slovakia

RASFF – aflatoxins in organic peanut butter from the Netherlands, with raw material from Germany in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 15; Tot. = 17.9 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Egypt in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 3.1; Tot. = 3.7 µg/kg – ppb) in mixed nuts from Turkey in France

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 11.1; Tot. = 16.6 µg/kg – ppb) in dried fig cubes from Turkey in France

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 9.1; Tot. = 18.5 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs cubes from Turkey in France

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.8 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts with shell from India in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 90; Tot. = 103 µg/kg – ppb) in ground nuts from China in Belgium

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 11.1; Tot. = 11.6 µg/kg – ppb) in Cayenne pepper powder from India in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.2 mg/kg – ppm) in hazelnut kernels from Georgia in Greece

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 106.19; Tot. = 117.01 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios with shell from the United States, dispatched from Turkey in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.6 µg/kg – ppb) in chili powder from India in Belgium

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 13.5; Tot. = 15.5 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts with shell from China in Spain

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 21; Tot. = 29 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in France

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

Research – Mycotoxins put dried fruit and nuts at risk

Posted on July 23, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Fresh Plaza

Dried fruit and nuts are the two segments affected by mycotoxins, along with cereal, flours and wine. This is why nut importers and dried fruit processors must perform multiple analyses on their products.

“Europe issues warnings almost every day and keeps seizing contaminated batches, so companies must perform regular analyses and screenings to avoid considerable economic losses,” explains Luca Rustignoli from Sicural.

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