Occurrence of mycotoxins in refrigerated pizza dough and risk assessment of exposure for the Spanish population

Review of the Terminology, Approaches, and Formulations Used in the Guidelines on Quantitative Risk Assessment of Chemical Hazards in Food

This paper reviews the published terminology, mathematical models, and the possible approaches used to characterise the risk of foodborne chemical hazards, particularly pesticides, metals, mycotoxins, acrylamide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results confirmed the wide variability of the nomenclature used, e.g., 28 different ways of referencing exposure, 13 of cancer risk, or 9 of slope factor. On the other hand, a total of 16 equations were identified to formulate all the risk characterisation parameters of interest. Therefore, the present study proposes a terminology and formulation for some risk characterisation parameters based on the guidelines of international organisations and the literature review. The mathematical model used for non-genotoxic hazards is a ratio in all cases. However, the authors used the probability of cancer or different ratios, such as the margin of exposure (MOE) for genotoxic hazards. For each effect studied per hazard, the non-genotoxic effect was mostly studied in pesticides (79.73%), the genotoxic effect was mostly studied in PAHs (71.15%), and both effects were mainly studied in metals (59.4%). The authors of the works reviewed generally opted for a deterministic approach, although most of those who assessed the risk for mycotoxins or the ratio and risk for acrylamide used the probabilistic approach.

Occurrence and Dietary Exposure Assessment to Enniatin B through Consumption of Cereal-Based Products in Spain and the Catalonia Region

Enniatin B (ENNB) is a mycotoxin produced by moulds from the Fusarium genera and its toxic effects are still not fully elucidated, hence a safe reference exposure value has not been established yet. ENNB is the most prevalent emerging mycotoxin and is widely found in cereal-based products, nevertheless, there are no comprehensive exposure assessment studies. For that reason, the aim of this study was to characterise the occurrence of ENNB and estimate the exposure of the Spanish and Catalan populations. A total of 347 cereal-based products were collected in 2019 and were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Consumption data were obtained from the national food consumption surveys (ENALIA) and a regional survey conducted in Catalonia. The global exposure was estimated using deterministic and probabilistic methods. The results showed a high occurrence of close to 100% in all foodstuffs, with a range from 6 to 269 µg/kg, and a strong correlation with the levels of deoxynivalenol. Children aged one-nine years were the most exposed, showing mean estimates in the range 308-324 ng/kg bw/day and 95th percentiles 697-781 ng/kg bw/day. This study stresses the need for further toxicological data to establish reference doses and conclude formal risk assessment, accounting for the co-occurrence with deoxynivalenol.

Aflatoxins in Cereals and Cereal-Based Products: Occurrence, Toxicity, Impact on Human Health, and Their Detoxification and Management Strategies

Cereals and cereal-based products are primary sources of nutrition across the world. However, contamination of these foods with aflatoxins (AFs), secondary metabolites produced by several fungal species, has raised serious concerns. AF generation in innate substrates is influenced by several parameters, including the substrate type, fungus species, moisture content, minerals, humidity, temperature, and physical injury to the kernels. Consumption of AF-contaminated cereals and cereal-based products can lead to both acute and chronic health issues related to physical and mental maturity, reproduction, and the nervous system. Therefore, the precise detection methods, detoxification, and management strategies of AFs in cereal and cereal-based products are crucial for food safety as well as consumer health. Hence, this review provides a brief overview of the occurrence, chemical characteristics, biosynthetic processes, health hazards, and detection techniques of AFs, along with a focus on detoxification and management strategies that could be implemented for food safety and security.

Development of an Antifungal Device Based on Oriental Mustard Flour to Prevent Fungal Growth and Aflatoxin B1 Production in Almonds

The present study describes the manufacture of an antifungal device composed of oriental mustard flour and hydroxyethyl-cellulose (H-OMF) and evaluates its efficacity in inhibiting Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁) production in almonds. Additionally, it compares the H-OMF with allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and a freeze-dried extract of yellow mustard flour (YMF-E); such substances were previously described as antifungal. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), the H-OMF in vitro antifungal activity, and the residual fungal population, as well as the production of AFB₁ in almonds were determined. AITC and YMF-E showed significant antifungal activity in vitro. Additionally, the in vitro activity of H-OMF avoided mycelial growth by applying 30 mg/L. Almonds treated with AITC (5.07, 10.13, and 20.26 mg/L) and H-OMF (2000 and 4000 mg/L) showed a reduction in the population of A. flavus and the production of AFB₁ to values below the limit of detection. YMF-E showed effectiveness by in vitro methodologies (MIC and MFC) but did not show efficacy when applied in almonds. Our findings indicated that the hydroxyethyl-cellulose-based device containing oriental mustard flour might be utilised as a fumigant to increase the safety of almonds and could be extended to other cereals or dry fruits.

Risk assessment of multiple-mycotoxin exposure for consumers of chestnuts in Shandong Province markets in China

In this study, 321 chestnut samples from Shandong Province in China were analysed for the presence of mycotoxins. We screened for 14 mycotoxins including aflatoxins (AFs: AFB₁, AFB₂, AFG₁, AFG₂), deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), T-2 toxin (T-2), zearalenone (ZEA), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisins (FB₁, FB₂, FB₃), and penicillic acid (PeA). Mycotoxins were detected in 56.4% of the samples, and 11 of these mycotoxins were found. Thirty samples from the Shandong Province markets were deemed positive for AFs (9.3%) and had an AFB₁ level of >2 μg/kg or a sum of AFB₁, AFB₂, AFG₁, and AFG₂ that was >4 μg/kg, which exceed the maximum tolerable level of the European regulations standards (EC/188/2006). The contamination level for total mycotoxins found in chestnuts was in the range of 0.6-2,791.0 μg/kg. The estimated daily intake (EDI) values for each individual mycotoxin and for all of the mycotoxins collectively were calculated by both a deterministic approach and a probabilistic approach. For risk characterisation, dietary exposure to DON, ZEA, FBs, and OTA through consumption of chestnuts, analysed according to both approaches, showed no health risk to Chinese adolescents and adults from exposure to either individual mycotoxins or in combination, but more concern should be paid to the AFs for adolescents and adults at a high consumption level. This is believed to be the first work performing risk assessment of multiple mycotoxins specifically for adolescents, including the recently isolated FBs and PeA, which have recently emerged as mycotoxins of concern, in chestnuts of Shandong Province in China.

Mycotoxins Affecting Animals, Foods, Humans, and Plants: Types, Occurrence, Toxicities, Action Mechanisms, Prevention, and Detoxification Strategies-A Revisit

Mycotoxins are produced by fungi and are known to be toxic to humans and animals. Common mycotoxins include aflatoxins, ochratoxins, zearalenone, patulin, sterigmatocystin, citrinin, ergot alkaloids, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, trichothecenes, Alternaria toxins, tremorgenic mycotoxins, fusarins, 3-nitropropionic acid, cyclochlorotine, sporidesmin, etc. These mycotoxins can pose several health risks to both animals and humans, including death. As several mycotoxins simultaneously occur in nature, especially in foods and feeds, the detoxification and/or total removal of mycotoxins remains challenging. Moreover, given that the volume of scientific literature regarding mycotoxins is steadily on the rise, there is need for continuous synthesis of the body of knowledge. To supplement existing information, knowledge of mycotoxins affecting animals, foods, humans, and plants, with more focus on types, toxicity, and prevention measures, including strategies employed in detoxification and removal, were revisited in this work. Our synthesis revealed that mycotoxin decontamination, control, and detoxification strategies cut across pre-and post-harvest preventive measures. In particular, pre-harvest measures can include good agricultural practices, fertilization/irrigation, crop rotation, using resistant varieties of crops, avoiding insect damage, early harvesting, maintaining adequate humidity, and removing debris from the preceding harvests. On the other hand, post-harvest measures can include processing, chemical, biological, and physical measures. Additionally, chemical-based methods and other emerging strategies for mycotoxin detoxification can involve the usage of chitosan, ozone, nanoparticles, and plant extracts.

Advances in Occurrence, Importance, and Mycotoxin Control Strategies: Prevention and Detoxification in Foods

Mycotoxins are toxic substances that can infect many foods with carcinogenic, genotoxic, teratogenic, nephrotoxic, and hepatotoxic effects. Mycotoxin contamination of foodstuffs causes diseases worldwide. The major classes of mycotoxins that are of the greatest agroeconomic importance are aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, emerging Fusarium mycotoxins, enniatins, ergot alkaloids, Alternaria toxins, and patulin. Thus, in order to mitigate mycotoxin contamination of foods, many control approaches are used. Prevention, detoxification, and decontamination of mycotoxins can contribute in this purpose in the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages. Therefore, the purpose of the review is to elaborate on the recent advances regarding the occurrence of main mycotoxins in many types of important agricultural products, as well as the methods of inactivation and detoxification of foods from mycotoxins in order to reduce or fully eliminate them.

Mycotoxins' evaluation in wheat flours used in Brazilian bakeries

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mycotoxicological quality of wheat flours used by bakeries from the North Region in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, regarding the presence of mycotoxins. On collecting type-1 refined wheat flour, a conglomerate sampling from 13 cities and 3 bakeries per city (n = 39), selected from the defined region was performed. The mycotoxins analysis was using QuEChERS method and UPLC-MS/MS analysis. As a result, 100% of samples presented contamination by DON, with concentrations ranging from 76.7 to 3630.2 µg kg^-1 and ZON was found in one sample (26.7 µg kg^-1), which represented 2.6% of the analyzed wheat flours. Other mycotoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, DAS, HT-2 toxin, OTA, FB1 and FB2) were not detected in the analyzed samples.

Graphical abstract

A Review on the Synthesis and Bioactivity Aspects of Beauvericin, a Fusarium Mycotoxin

Beauvericin (BEA) is an emerging Fusarium mycotoxin that contaminates food and feeds globally. BEA biosynthesis is rapidly catalyzed by BEA synthetase through a nonribosomal, thiol-templated mechanism. This mycotoxin has cytotoxicity and is capable of increasing oxidative stress to induce cell apoptosis. Recently, large evidence further shows that this mycotoxin has a variety of biological activities and is being considered a potential candidate for medicinal and pesticide research. It is noteworthy that BEA is a potential anticancer agent since it can increase the intracellular Ca²⁺ levels and induce the cancer cell death through oxidative stress and apoptosis. BEA has exhibited effective antibacterial activities against both pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Importantly, BEA exhibits an effective capacity to inhibit the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 integrase. Moreover, BEA can simultaneously target drug resistance and morphogenesis which provides a promising strategy to combat life-threatening fungal infections. Thus, in this review, the synthesis and the biological activities of BEA, as well as, the underlying mechanisms, are fully analyzed. The risk assessment of BEA in food and feed are also discussed. We hope this review will help to further understand the biological activities of BEA and cast some new light on drug discovery.

A Review of the Mycotoxin Enniatin B

Mycotoxin enniatin B (ENN B) is a secondary metabolism product by Fusarium fungi. It is a well-known antibacterial, antihelmintic, antifungal, herbicidal, and insecticidal compound. It has been found as a contaminant in several food commodities, particularly in cereal grains, co-occurring also with other mycotoxins. The primary mechanism of action of ENN B is mainly due to its ionophoric characteristics, but the exact mechanism is still unclear. In the last two decades, it has been a topic of great interest since its potent mammalian cytotoxic activity was demonstrated in several mammalian cell lines. Moreover, the co-exposure in vitro with other mycotoxins enhances its toxic potential through synergic effects, depending on the concentrations tested. Despite its clear cytotoxic effect, European Food Safety Authority stated that acute exposure to ENNs, such as ENN B, does not indicate concern for human health, but a concern might be the chronic exposure. However, given the lack of relevant toxicity data, no firm conclusion could be drawn and a risk assessment was not possible. In fact, very few studies have been carried out in vivo and, in these studies, no adverse effects were observed. So, research on toxicological effects induced by ENN B is still on-going. Recently, some studies are dealing with new advances regarding ENN B. This review summarizes the information on biochemical and biological activity of ENN B, focusing on toxicological aspects and on the latest advances in research on ENN B.

Occurrence, toxicity, bioaccessibility and mitigation strategies of beauvericin, a minor Fusarium mycotoxin

Emerging Fusarium mycotoxins include the toxic secondary metabolites fusaproliferin, enniatins, beauvericin (BEA), and moniliform. BEA is produced by some entomo- and phytopathogenic Fusarium species and occurs naturally on corn and corn-based foods and feeds infected by Fusarium spp. BEA has shown various biological activities (antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal) and possesses toxic activity, including the induction of apoptosis, increase cytoplasmic calcium concentration and lead to DNA fragmentation in mammalian cell lines. Cereals food processing has an important effect on mycotoxin stability, leading to less-contaminated food compared to the raw materials. Different industrial processes have shown to be effective practices to reduce BEA contents due to thermal food processing applied, such as cooking, boiling, baking, frying, roasting and pasteurization. Some studies demonstrated the capacity of lactic acid bacteria to reduce the presence of the BEA in model solution and in food chain through fermentation processes, modifying this mycotoxin in a less toxic derivate. Prebiotic and probiotic ingredient can modulate the bioaccessibility of BEA reducing the risk of intake of this minor Fusarium mycotoxin. This review summarizes the existing data on occurrence, toxicity and especially on BEA reduction strategies in food and feed such as chemical reduction, biocontrol and food processing.

Presence of Enniatins and Beauvericin in Romanian Wheat Samples: From Raw Material to Products for Direct Human Consumption

In this study, a total of 244 wheat and wheat-based products collected from Romania were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in order to evaluate the presence of four enniatins (ENs; i.e., ENA, ENA1, ENB, and ENB1) and beauvericin (BEA). For the wheat samples, the influence of agricultural practices was assessed, whereas the results for the wheat-based products were used to calculate the estimated daily intake of emerging mycotoxins through wheat consumption for the Romanian population. ENB presented the highest incidence (41% in wheat and 32% in wheat-based products), with its maximum levels of 815 μg kg-1 and 170 μg kg-1 in wheat and wheat-based products, respectively. The correlation between the concentrations of ENB and ENB1 in wheat grain samples and farm practices (organic or conventional) was confirmed statistically (p < 0.05). This is the first study that provides comprehensive information about the influence of agricultural practice on emerging Fusarium mycotoxin presence in Romanian wheat samples and the estimated daily intake of ENs and BEA present in wheat-based products for human consumption commercialized in Romania.

Environmental Microcystin Exposure Increases Liver Injury Risk Induced by Hepatitis B Virus Combined with Aflatoxin: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest China

Three liver hazards, two confirmed-hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin (AFB), and one rarely studied in populations-microcystin (MC), simultaneously exist in tropical and humid areas; however, there are no epidemiological data on their risks in the same population. We conducted a community-based cross-sectional survey among 5493 adults in two rural towns and statistically analyzed the comparative and combinative effects of the three factors after detecting HBsAg and HBV DNA titers, determining estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of AFB1 and MC-LR and testing serum AST and ALT as liver injury markers for each participant. We observed a HBsAg(+) rate of 7.6%, a relatively high AFB1 exposure level (mean EDI_AFB1 = 471.30 ng/d), and a relatively low MC-LR exposure level (mean EDI_MC-LR = 228.25 ng/d). ORs for abnormal AST (2.42, 95%CI = 1.69-3.45) and ALT (2.87, 95%CI = 1.91-4.29) increased in HBV infections compared with HBV-unexposed participants but did not increase in participants with separate or combined exposure to AFB1 and MC-LR (EDIs ≥ mean). Meanwhile, after adjustment for confounding factors, means of AST and ALT and ORs of abnormal AST and ALT were successively elevated after exposure to HBV, HBV&AFB1 (or HBV&MC-LR), and HBV&AFB1&MC-LR, especially in the group with detectable HBV DNA (AST: OR = 11.38, 95%CI = 3.91-33.17; ALT: OR = 17.09, 95%CI = 5.36-54.53). Notably, ORs for abnormal AST and ALT in the HBV exposed group were not significantly different from those in HBV&AFB1 or in the HBV&MC-LR exposed group but were significantly higher in the HBV&AFB1&MC-LR exposed group (P = 0.029 and P = 0.037, respectively). Our study indicated that microcystin may have the potential to increase the risk of liver injury induced by combined exposure to HBV and aflatoxin. However, in consideration of the uncertainties in the detection of the toxins and evaluation of the EDIs, more epidemiological data are expected to determine the increasing toxic effects of microcystins.

Determination of mycotoxins in biscuits, dried fruits and fruit jams: an assessment of human exposure

A reliable, fast and simple method using UHPLC-MS/MS was developed for the determination of aflatoxins B₁ (AFB1), G₁ (AFG1), B₂ (AFB2) and G₂ (AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin in crude extracts of biscuits with fruit filling, cookies, dried fruits and fruit jams. The method was successfully demonstrated on 39 samples of biscuits with fruit filling, 34 cookies, 14 dried fruits and 10 fruit jams. The mycotoxins detected in biscuits samples were ZEA, OTA, T-2 and AFB1 with an average concentrations of positive samples of 2.64, 4.10, 8.13 and 1.32 µg kg^-1, respectively; while the mycotoxins detected in jam samples were AFB1, OTA, T-2 and AFB2 with an average concentrations of positive samples of 2.00, 17.7, 4.37 and 1.15 µg kg^-1, respectively. The results showed that the majority of samples were in compliance with relevant regulations. However in eight samples of biscuits and three samples of fig jam the contents of OTA were higher than the existing OTA limits. The combined dietary exposure of selected mycotoxins was estimated for the first time for children, adolescents and adults. The estimated combined dietary exposures were all lower than the proposed value assumed to predict a possible risk scenario.