Category Archives: Mycotoxin

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts – Dried Figs – Pistachios – Brown Basmati Rice – Hazlenut Kernels – Almonds – Chilli Powder

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = >48; Tot. = >60 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Nigeria in Poland

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 15.3 mg/kg – ppm) in dried figs from Turkey in Sweden

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 22.2; Tot. = 24.3 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from Iran, dispatched from Hong Kong in Italy

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 24; Tot. = 27 µg/kg – ppb) in brown basmati rice from India in the Netherlands

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 12.9; Tot. = 15.1 / B1 = 19.9; Tot. = 44.5 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 7.56; Tot. = 9.59 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Georgia in Bulgaria

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 5.8; Tot. = 6.5 µg/kg – ppb) in unshelled groundnuts from the United States in Germany

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 8; Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from the United States, dispatched from Turkey in Belgium

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from Spain, via Germany in Finland

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 5.3; Tot. = 6.6 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts kernels from Nigeria in the UK

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 9.5; Tot. = 10.1 µg/kg – ppb) in chilli powder from India in the UK

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 87.2; Tot. = 170.8 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Sweden

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

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Pastry Flour – Dried Figs

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

ochratoxin A (5.6 µg/kg – ppb) in pastry flour from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF

ochratoxin A (19.4 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey, via Germany in Austria

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Toxin

Research – Mycotoxins and food security

Posted on December 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

EU

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Microbiology Research, Food Toxin, Fusarium Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Research, Toxin

Research – Mycotoxins in Beverages

Posted on December 3, 2020 by | 2 comments

MDPI

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi that contaminate raw materials such as cereals, fruits, dried fruits, coffee, and grapes when they have been produced or maintained in a temperature and/or humidity conditions that favour fungi growth. In general, mycotoxins are very resistant to temperature and remain stable during food preparation and processing [1].Therefore, food prepared from contaminated raw materials can retain the levels of these compounds.Several beverages are produced based on raw materials prone to be contaminated, such as beer from cereals, wine from grapes, coffee, and more. Moreover, and due to the fact that one fungal speciescan produce various of these metabolites [2], the most likely scenario is the co-occurrence of several mycotoxins in one food product.

Mycotoxins have different toxic effects on human health. They can be divided into acute effects,due to the ingestion of high levels of toxins in a short time period, and into chronic effects, due to the ingestion of low quantities for a long time. These chronic effects are the most common ones and they have been described as hepatotoxicity, immune diseases, carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, endocrine andreproductive effects, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, among others [2].All the above make the presence of these compounds in human foods a global problem regarding food safety and also regarding economics, due to the loss of lots of contaminated raw materials or food products and its impact on global trade [3].In order to protect human health, legislative organisms promote the monitorization of these toxins in raw materials and foods, along with the regulation of maximum levels that can be present in some food products.

This Special Issue “Mycotoxins in Beverages” comprises three research articles and three reviews related to the presence of these toxins in beverages and covers different aspects. The research articles are devoted to the presence of mycotoxins in beer and milk. The reviews collect, on the one hand,information regarding mycotoxin presence in wine and in beverages obtained from tropical crops, and,on the other, new approaches for detecting ochratoxin A and other compounds in beverages.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Toxin, Fusarium Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin

Israel – Ground Nutmeg/Sterilized Nutmeg – Aflatoxin B1

Posted on December 2, 2020 by | Leave a comment
Upon inspection by the Food Service in Ashkelon District Public Health Bureau, it was found that the following ground nutmeg products contain higher levels of mycotoxins of the Aflatoxin B1 type than permitted.
Product’s name: Ground Nutmeg / Sterilized Nutmeg, volume: 500 grams jars and 1000 gram bags. Manufacturer’s name: Avivi Spices Ltd.
Best Before Dates: 9/2021, 11/2021/, 01/2022, 03/2022
Consumers in possession of this product are urged not to consume it.
For questions and returns,please call our customer service center on the following number: 088692510 Avivi Spices Ltd. is taking action to recall the product from shelves, in coordination with the Food Service in the Ministry of Health.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, 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 Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin

Research – Aspergillus-Derived Mycotoxins in the Feed and Food Chain

Posted on November 29, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Frontiers in Microbiology

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Image CDC

Aspergillus-produced mycotoxins can enter the feed and food chain at many points in both pre-harvest and post-harvest. Although current climate changes seem to speed up the world-wide spread of mycotoxigenic fungi including the Aspergilli and also facilitate the production of these harmful secondary metabolites the factors governing these disadvantageous global processes are only partly understood or even have remained completely hidden until now. This Research Topic summarizes our knowledge on Aspergillus-derived mycotoxins especially focusing on three major areas of on-going research: (i) toxicological, medical, veterinary aspects, prevalence, detection, risk assessment, control strategies, (ii) ecology and biological control of mycotoxigenic Aspergilli in the fields, and (iii) pre-harvest and post-harvest management of mycotoxigenic Aspergilli and their mycotoxin production. We hope that the wealth of information generously provided by the Aspergillus mycotoxin research community will help the hard work of all those experts, who are active in this important field, and the papers collected here will be instructive and illuminating readings for students and the public as well.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed, Aspergillus, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Temperature Abuse, Food Testing, Food Toxin, mold, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Moulds, Mycotoxin, Research

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A -Dried Figs

Posted on November 27, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

ochratoxin A (124.5 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

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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 Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, RASFF

RASFF Alert – Mycotoxin -DON – Wheat

Posted on November 27, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat from the Czech Republic in Germany

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Posted in deoxynivalenol, DON, food contamination, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin

Research – 5 warning signs of mycotoxin contamination in feed

Posted on November 21, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Farmers Weekly

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Image CDC

Farmers are being warned to keep their eyes peeled for signs of contamination in feed after sampling has shown high mycotoxin risk levels.

UK-wide sampling carried out by Alltech has shown that 46% of total mixed rations (TMR) produced in spring-summer have a moderate to high mycotoxin risk.

“The most common types of mycotoxin found were the Type A Trichothecenes and the Penicilliums,” explains Bob Kendal, North England ruminant manager at Alltech.

“Penicilliums are found in silages and are of particular concern for ruminants. The mould starts life white in colour before developing a blue/grey/green colour and, as the name suggests, can have an antibiotic effect on rumen bacteria.

“This manifests itself as acidosis-like symptoms, dung consistency and sudden drops in milk.

“Type A Trichothecenes includes T-2 toxin which can have a serious effect on the gut of the cow and reduce intakes and performance.”

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Toxin, Fusarium Toxin, mold, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Trichothecenes

USA – Pet foods recalled for possible excess Aflatoxin

Posted on November 20, 2020 by | Leave a comment

AVMA

Pet food maker Sunshine Mills recalled products sold under 17 brand names for potentially harmful amounts of aflatoxin.

The company attributed the danger to mold on a single delivery of corn used in making the foods, mostly dog chow and some cat chow. In announcements Sept. 2 and Oct. 8, Food and Drug Administration officials indicated the company was recalling corn-based pet foods made April 3-5, 2020.

Clinical signs of aflatoxin poisoning include lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice, and aflatoxin poisoning can result in liver damage and death. The National Institutes of Health also lists aflatoxins among carcinogens in humans, citing links between exposure to the toxins and increased risk of liver cancer.

The recalled products are in 58 lots that had been sold under 17 brand names: Champ, Family Pet, Field Trial, Good Dog, Heartland Farms, Hunter’s Special, Old Glory, Paws Happy Life, Pet Expert, Principle, Retriever, River Bend, Sportsman’s Pride, Sprout, Thrifty, Top Runner, and Whiskers & Tails. The affected products range in size from 4 pounds to 50 pounds, and all have lot codes that include the text 3/April/2020, 4/April/2020, or 5/April/2020.

Additional details are available at the FDA website.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Microbiology, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin