Mycotoxin production in major crops as influenced by growing, harvesting, storage and processing, with emphasis on the achievement of Food Safety Objectives

Degradation of Toxins Derived from Foodborne Pathogens by Atmospheric-Pressure Dielectric-Barrier Discharge

Foodborne diseases can be attributed not only to contamination with bacterial or fungal pathogens but also their associated toxins. Thus, to maintain food safety, innovative decontamination techniques for toxins are required. We previously demonstrated that an atmospheric-pressure dielectric-barrier discharge (APDBD) plasma generated by a roller conveyer plasma device is effective at inactivating bacteria and fungi in foods. Here, we have further examined whether the roller conveyer plasma device can be used to degrade toxins produced by foodborne bacterial pathogens, including aflatoxin, Shiga toxins (Stx1 and Stx2), enterotoxin B and cereulide. Each toxin was spotted onto an aluminum plate, allowed to dry, and then treated with APDBD plasma applied by the roller conveyer plasma device for different time periods. Assessments were conducted using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results demonstrate a significant time-dependent decrease in the levels of these toxins. ELISA showed that aflatoxin B1 concentrations were reduced from 308.6 µg/mL to 74.4 µg/mL within 1 min. For Shiga toxins, Stx1 decreased from 913.8 µg/mL to 65.1 µg/mL, and Stx2 from 2309.0 µg/mL to 187.6 µg/mL within the same time frame (1 min). Enterotoxin B levels dropped from 62.67 µg/mL to 1.74 µg/mL at 15 min, and 1.43 µg/mL at 30 min, but did not display a significant decrease within 5 min. LC-MS/MS analysis verified that cereulide was reduced to below the detection limit following 30 min of APDBD plasma treatment. Taken together, these findings highlight that a range of foodborne toxins can be degraded by a relatively short exposure to plasma generated by an APDBD using a roller conveyer device. This technology offers promising advancements in food safety, providing a novel method to alleviate toxin contamination in the food processing industry.

Aflatoxin M1 Analysis in Urine of Mill Workers in Bangladesh: A Pilot Study

Presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in food and feed is a serious problem, especially in developing countries. Human exposure to this carcinogenic mycotoxin can occur through dietary intake, but also through inhalation or dermal contact when handling and processing AFB1-contaminated crops. A suitable biomarker of AFB1 exposure by all routes is the occurrence of its hydroxylated metabolite aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in urine. To assess mycotoxin exposure in mill workers in Bangladesh, we analyzed AFM1 levels in urine samples of this population group who may encounter both dietary and occupational AFB1 exposure. In this pilot study, a total of 76 participants (51 mill workers and 25 controls) were enrolled from the Sylhet region of Bangladesh. Urine samples were collected from people who worked in rice, wheat, maize and spice mills and from controls with no occupational contact to these materials. A questionnaire was used to collect information on basic characteristics and normal food habits of all participants. Levels of AFM1 in the urine samples were determined by a competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. AFM1 was detected in 96.1% of mill workers' urine samples with a range of LOD (40) of 217.7 pg/mL and also in 92% of control subject's urine samples with a range of LOD of 307.0 pg/mL). The mean level of AFM1 in mill workers' urine (106.5 ± 35.0 pg/mL) was slightly lower than that of the control group (123.3 ± 52.4 pg/mL), whilst the mean AFM1 urinary level adjusted for creatinine was higher in mill workers (142.1 ± 126.1 pg/mg crea) than in the control group (98.5 ± 71.2 pg/mg crea). Yet, these differences in biomarker levels were not statistically significant. Slightly different mean urinary AFM1 levels were observed between maize mill, spice mill, rice mill, and wheat mill workers, yet biomarker values are based on a small number of individuals in these subgroups. No significant correlations were found between the study subjects' urine AFM1 levels and their consumption of some staple food items, except for a significant correlation observed between urinary biomarker levels and consumption of groundnuts. In conclusion, this pilot study revealed the frequent presence of AFM1 in the urine of mill workers in Bangladesh and those of concurrent controls with dietary AFB1 exposure only. The absence of a statistical difference in mean biomarker levels for workers and controls suggests that in the specific setting, no extra occupational exposure occurred. Yet, the high prevalence of non-negligible AFM1 levels in the collected urines encourage further studies in Bangladesh regarding aflatoxin exposure.

Incidence of Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in Wheat and Corn from Albania

In this study, aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) were analyzed in grains, specifically wheat and corn, from Albania. To summarize, 71 wheat and 45 corn samples from different growing areas were collected. The multi-toxin analytical procedure involved sample extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The incidence of AF was 18% in the analyzed wheat and 71% in the corn samples. The concentration of AFs was much higher in the corn samples than in the wheat samples. The maximum permitted levels for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and total AFs were not exceeded in the wheat samples, while they were exceeded in 36% of the corn samples. In the wheat samples, the AFB1 concentration varied between 0.2 and 0.4 µg kg-1. However, the highest concentrations in the corn samples were 2057, 2944, and 3550 µg kg-1. OTA was present in only three corn samples and one wheat sample. However, all contaminated samples exceeded the maximum permitted levels. This report reveals the presence of AFs and OTA in grain commodities, specifically wheat and corn, grown in Albania.

Mycotoxins in Cereal-Based Products and Their Impacts on the Health of Humans, Livestock Animals and Pets

Cereal grains are the most important food staples for human beings and livestock animals. They can be processed into various types of food and feed products such as bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, cake, snacks, beer, complete feed, and pet foods. However, cereal grains are vulnerable to the contamination of soil microorganisms, particularly molds. The toxigenic fungi/molds not only cause quality deterioration and grain loss, but also produce toxic secondary metabolites, mycotoxins, which can cause acute toxicity, death, and chronic diseases such as cancer, immunity suppression, growth impairment, and neural tube defects in humans, livestock animals and pets. To protect human beings and animals from these health risks, many countries have established/adopted regulations to limit exposure to mycotoxins. The purpose of this review is to update the evidence regarding the occurrence and co-occurrence of mycotoxins in cereal grains and cereal-derived food and feed products and their health impacts on human beings, livestock animals and pets. The effort for safe food and feed supplies including prevention technologies, detoxification technologies/methods and up-to-date regulation limits of frequently detected mycotoxins in cereal grains for food and feed in major cereal-producing countries are also provided. Some important areas worthy of further investigation are proposed.

Investigation on Fermentation Characteristics and Microbial Communities of Wheat Straw Silage with Different Proportion Artemisia argyi

Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of fungi, are a major obstacle to the utilization of animal feed for various reasons. Wheat straw (WS) is hollow, and miscellaneous bacteria can easy attach to its surface; the secondary fermentation frequency after silage is high, and there is a risk of mycotoxin poisoning. In this study, a storage fermentation process was used to preserve and enhance fermentation quality in WS through the addition of Artemisia argyi (AA), which is an effective method to use WS resources and enhance aerobic stability. The storage fermentation of WS treated with AA had lower pH and mycotoxin (AFB1 and DON) values than the control due to rapid changes in microbial counts, especially in the 60% AA groups. Meanwhile, the addition of 60% AA improved anaerobic fermentation profiles, showing higher lactic acid contents, leading to increased efficiency of lactic acid fermentation. A background microbial dynamic study indicated that the addition of 60% AA improved the fermentation and aerobic exposure processes, decreased microbial richness, enriched Lactobacillus abundance, and reduced Enterobacter and Aspergillus abundances. In conclusion, 60% AA treatment could improve the quality by increase fermentation quality and improve the aerobic stability of WS silage by enhancing the dominance of desirable Lactobacillus, inhibiting the growth of undesirable microorganisms, especially fungi, and reducing the content of mycotoxins.

Monitoring Insect Resistance to Bt Maize in the European Union: Update, Challenges, and Future Prospects

Transgenic maize producing the Cry1Ab toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt maize) was approved for cultivation in the European Union (EU) in 1998 to control the corn borers Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefèbvre) and Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner). In the EU since then, Cry1Ab is the only Bt toxin produced by Bt maize and Spain is the only country where Bt maize has been planted every year. In 2021, about 100,000 hectares of Bt maize producing Cry1Ab were cultivated in the EU, with Spain accounting for 96% and Portugal 4% of this area. In both countries, Bt maize represented less than 25% of all maize planted in 2021, with a maximum regional adoption of 64% Bt maize in northeastern Spain. Insect resistance management based on the high-dose/refuge strategy has been implemented in the EU since 1998. This has been accompanied by monitoring to enable early detection of resistance. The monitoring data from laboratory bioassays show no decrease in susceptibility to Cry1Ab had occurred in either pest as of 2021. Also, control failures have not been reported, confirming that Bt maize producing Cry1Ab remains effective against both pests. Conditions in the EU preventing approval of new genetically modified crops, including maize producing two or more Bt toxins targeting corn borers, may limit the future effectiveness of resistance management strategies.

Bacteriological Quality and Biotoxin Profile of Ready-to-Eat Foods Vended in Lagos, Nigeria

A comprehensive study of bacterial and biotoxin contaminants of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in Nigeria is yet to be reported. Hence, this study applied 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a dilute-and-shoot LC-MS/MS method to profile bacteria and biotoxins, respectively, in 199 RTE food samples comprising eko (n = 30), bread (n = 30), shawarma (n = 35), aadun (n = 35), biscuits (n = 34), and kokoro (n = 35). A total of 631 bacterial isolates, clustered into seven operational taxonomic units, namely Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Proteus and Kosakonia, Kurthia, and Yokenella, that are reported for the first time were recovered from the foods. One hundred and eleven metabolites comprising mycotoxins and other fungal metabolites, phytoestrogenic phenols, phytotoxins, and bacterial metabolites were detected in the foods. Aflatoxins, fumonisins, and ochratoxins contaminated only the artisanal foods (aadun, eko, and kokoro), while deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were found in industrially-processed foods (biscuit, bread, and shawarma), and citrinin was present in all foods except eko. Mean aflatoxin (39.0 µg/kg) in artisanal foods exceeded the 10 µg/kg regulatory limit adopted in Nigeria by threefold. Routine surveillance, especially at the informal markets; food hygiene and safety education to food processors and handlers; and sourcing of high-quality raw materials are proposed to enhance RTE food quality and safeguard consumer health.

Type B Trichothecenes in Cereal Grains and Their Products: Recent Advances on Occurrence, Toxicology, Analysis and Post-Harvest Decontamination Strategies

Type B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol) and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (DON-3G) are secondary toxic metabolites produced mainly by mycotoxigenic Fusarium fungi and have been recognized as natural contaminants in cereals and cereal-based foods. The latest studies have proven the various negative effects of type B trichothecenes on human health. Due to the widespread occurrence of Fusarium species, contamination by these mycotoxins has become an important aspect for public health and agro-food systems worldwide. Hence, their monitoring and surveillance in various foods have received a significant deal of attention in recent years. In this review, an up-to-date overview of the occurrence profile of major type B trichothecenes and DON-3G in cereal grains and their toxicological implications are outlined. Furthermore, current trends in analytical methodologies for their determination are overviewed. This review also covers the factors affecting the production of these mycotoxins, as well as the management strategies currently employed to mitigate their contamination in foods. Information presented in this review provides good insight into the progress that has been achieved in the last years for monitoring type B trichothecenes and DON-3G, and also would help the researchers in their further investigations on metabolic pathway analysis and toxicological studies of these Fusarium mycotoxins.

Application of Non-Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus for the Biological Control of Aflatoxin Contamination in China

Biological control through the application of competitive non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) to the soil during peanut growth is a practical method for controlling aflatoxin contamination. However, appropriate materials need to be found to reduce the cost of biocontrol products. In this study, a two-year experiment was conducted under field conditions in China, using a native non-aflatoxigenic strain to explore its effect. After three months of storage under high humidity, aflatoxin levels remained low in peanuts from fields treated with the biocontrol agent. Three types of substrates were tested with the biocontrol agent: rice grains, peanut meal (peanut meal fertilizer) and peanut coating. Compared to untreated fields, these formulations resulted in reductions of 78.23%, 67.54% and 38.48%, respectively. Furthermore, the ratios of non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus recovered in the soils at harvest in the treated fields were between 41.11% and 96.67% higher than that in untreated fields (25.00%), indicating that the rice inoculum was the most effective, followed by the peanut meal fertilizer and peanut coating. In 2019, the mean aflatoxin content of freshly harvested peanuts in untreated fields was 19.35 µg/kg higher than that in the fields treated with 7.5 kg/ha rice inoculum, which was 1.37 µg/kg. Moreover, no aflatoxin was detected in the two other plots treated with 10 and 15 kg/ha rice inoculum. This study showed that the native Chinese non-aflatoxigenic strain of A. flavus (18PAsp-zy1) had the potential to reduce aflatoxin contamination in peanuts. In addition, peanut meal can be used as an alternative substrate to replace traditional grains, reducing the cost of biocontrol products.

Recent Progress on Techniques in the Detection of Aflatoxin B1 in Edible Oil: A Mini Review

Contamination of agricultural products and foods by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is becoming a serious global problem, and the presence of AFB1 in edible oil is frequent and has become inevitable, especially in underdeveloped countries and regions. As AFB1 results from a possible degradation of aflatoxins and the interaction of the resulting toxic compound with food components, it could cause chronic disease or severe cancers, increasing morbidity and mortality. Therefore, rapid and reliable detection methods are essential for checking AFB1 occurrence in foodstuffs to ensure food safety. Recently, new biosensor technologies have become a research hotspot due to their characteristics of speed and accuracy. This review describes various technologies such as chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, ELISA techniques, and biosensing techniques, along with their advantages and weaknesses, for AFB1 control in edible oil and provides new insight into AFB1 detection for future work. Although compared with other technologies, biosensor technology involves the cross integration of multiple technologies, such as spectral technology and new nano materials, and has great potential, some challenges regarding their stability, cost, etc., need further studies.

Changes in Fusarium and Aspergillus Mycotoxin Content and Fatty Acid Composition after the Application of Ozone in Different Maize Hybrids

Mycotoxins in maize represent a great threat to human health. For this reason, novel technics such as ozone treatment are used to reduce the content of maize mycotoxins. However, there is little knowledge about the effect of ozone treatment on maize quality parameters. This study investigated the changes in Fusarium and Aspergillus mycotoxins and the changes in fatty acids during the ozone treatment of maize samples. Sixteen maize hybrids were visually tested for the naturally occurring ear rot severity and treated with three different concentrations of ozone (40, 70, and 85 mg/L). Mycotoxin content in maize samples was determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system, whereas dominant fatty acids were determined using gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Ozone treatments could be successfully applied to reduce the content of mycotoxins in maize below the detection limit. Ozone treatments increased the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and decreased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), i.e., linoleic acid (36.7% in relation to the lowest applied ozone concentration), which negatively affected the nutritional value of maize.

A versatile Y shaped DNA nanostructure for simple, rapid and one-step detection of mycotoxins

A versatile Y shaped DNA nanostructure has been developed for simple, rapid and one-step simultaneous detection aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA). Y shaped duplex DNA arms was formed with two DNA tweezer at the ends. The aptamer sequence at the third end can bind to its target mycotoxins with strong affinity and then release the two DNA fragments. The released DNA fragments can open the DNA tweezers at the ends of Y shaped DNA arm. The amounts of AFB1 and OTA can be quantitative detection through the recovery of the fluorescent intensities. This strategy is simple and rapid with self-powered DNA hybridization reaction to control the "open" of Y shaped DNA tweezers. Furthermore, it can be finished in 60 min with only one-step of operation. The linear range of AFB1 was from 0.5 to 200 ng/mL (R² = 0.995) and linear relationship of OTA was obtained from 4 to 300 ng/mL (R² = 0.990). It also has been successfully applied for mycotoxins detection in real food samples. Importantly, the target mycotoxins can be extended to others by simply replacing the corresponding aptamer sequences.

The control of Fusarium growth and decontamination of produced mycotoxins by lactic acid bacteria

Global crop and food contamination with mycotoxins are one of the primary worldwide concerns, while there are several restrictions regarding approaching conventional physical and chemical mycotoxins decontamination methods due to nutrition loss, sensory attribute reduction in foods, chemical residual, inconvenient operation, high cost of equipment, and high energy consumption of some methods. In this regard, the overarching challenges of mycotoxin contamination in food and food crops require the development of biological decontamination strategies. Using certain lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as generally recognized safe (GRAS) compounds is one of the most effective alternatives due to their potential to release antifungal metabolites against various fungal factors species. This review highlights the potential applications of LAB as biodetoxificant agents and summarizes their decontamination activities against Fusarium growth and Fusarium mycotoxins released into food/feed. Firstly, the occurrence of Fusarium and the instrumental and bioanalytical methods for the analysis of mycotoxins were in-depth discussed. Upgraded knowledge on the biosynthesis pathway of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium offers new insightful ideas clarifying the function of these secondary metabolites. Moreover, the characterization of LAB metabolites and their impact on the decontamination of the mycotoxin from Fusarium, besides the main mechanisms of mycotoxin decontamination, are covered. While the thematic growth inhibition of Fusarium and decontamination of their mycotoxin by LAB is very complex, approaching certain lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is worth deeper investigations.

Deoxynivalenol: An Overview on Occurrence, Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Health Effects and Its Detection, Management, and Control Strategies in Food and Feed

Mycotoxins are fungi-produced secondary metabolites that can contaminate many foods eaten by humans and animals. Deoxynivalenol (DON), which is formed by Fusarium, is one of the most common occurring predominantly in cereal grains and thus poses a significant health risk. When DON is ingested, it can cause both acute and chronic toxicity. Acute signs include abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhea, increased salivation, vomiting, and malaise. The most common effects of chronic DON exposure include changes in dietary efficacy, weight loss, and anorexia. This review provides a succinct overview of various sources, biosynthetic mechanisms, and genes governing DON production, along with its consequences on human and animal health. It also covers the effect of environmental factors on its production with potential detection, management, and control strategies.

Characterization of Fusarium acuminatum: A Potential Enniatins Producer in Tunisian Wheat

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), caused by multiple species of Fusarium in small grain cereals, is a significant and long-standing problem anywhere in the world. Knowing regional Fusarium spp. present on non-symptomatic grains and their potential for mycotoxin production is of concern for identifying novel actions for FHB and mycotoxin management, such as treatments with essential oils. Analyzing the mycotoxin content of grains from non-symptomatic ears of different wheat varieties cultivated in Tunisia, we isolated Fusaria specimens identified as F. culmorum and F. acuminatum using analysis of the partial DNA sequence of the β-tubulin gene and ITS region. Two isolates of the latter species, uncommon in cereal grains in this region until now, were shown to be effective producers of enniatins in vitro, with 1390 and 3089 µg g⁻¹ mycelial biomass (dry) in 11-day-old cultures. The susceptibility of an isolate of F. acuminatum to the fungistatic and antimycotoxin effects of eight essential oils was measured. Essential oils from Ammoides pusilla and Thymus capitatus used at 0.1 µL mL⁻¹ in an agar culture medium, affected the mycelial growth by 55% and 79%, respectively and reduced the accumulation of enniatins per unit of mycelial colony by 26% and 52%, respectively. Finally, F. acuminatum was shown to be a contaminant of wheat grains in Tunisia and it may contribute to the contamination in enniatins. Two essential oils of Tunisian plants could be used for developing a biofungicide limiting both its mycelial growth and its accumulation of mycotoxins in grains.

Relationship between the Fungal Incidence, Water Activity, Humidity, and Aflatoxin Content in Maize Samples from the Highlands and Coast of Ecuador

This study evaluated the fungal incidence through direct plating in Agar Dichloran Glycerol, and the presence of aflatoxins in maize samples from the Highlands and Coast of Ecuador by HPLC, investigating the influence of the temperature, altitude, water activity, and humidity of the collection regions on the maize samples’ contamination using Principal Components Analysis (PCA). The overall kernel infection by fungi was usually lower in samples from the Highlands, and no aflatoxins or Aspergillus series Flavi were detected in the samples from this region. In the coastal samples, Aspergillus sp. were isolated from all samples, while the potentially aflatoxigenic A. Flavi contaminated about 80% of them. Aflatoxins were present in 50% of these samples, in ranges from 0.42 to 107.69 µg/kg. PCA was able to segregate the samples according to their collection region, and showed that the maximum and minimum temperatures are closely and positively related to the presence of A. Flavi. A highly positive relationship was also observed between the water activity of the sample and aflatoxin contamination. On the other hand, the altitude had a very strong—but negative—relationship with the variables studied. This study is relevant because data regarding fungi and aflatoxin occurrence, as well the main factor influencing the contamination of Ecuadoran maize, are scarce; it clearly shows that aflatoxins are a hazard present in maize from the Ecuadorian Coast but not the Highlands.

Estimating bulk optical properties of AFB1 contaminated edible oils in 300-900 nm by combining double integrating spheres technique with laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy

An optical detection platform based on laser induced spectroscopy and double integrating spheres techniques was developed to obtain absorption (μ_a), reduced scattering coefficients (μ'_s) and fluorescence intensity of oil. The validation experiment carried on liquid phantoms showed that the developed system could achieve high linearity, and the results of spectra analysis indicated that the fluorescence intensity has a significant negative correlation with both μ_a and μ'_s. A total of 1620 oils with six categories were detected. The reason for the difference of fluorescence and μ_a spectra was analyzed by comparing the measured chlorophyll, polyphenol and α-tocopherol contents. Linear discriminant analysis combined with principal component analysis based on fluorescence and μ_a spectra was employed, to calibrate the AFB₁ classification models. The discrimination results manifested that by integrating μ_a with fluorescence signal, the correct classification rate could be improved by more than 10%, and the false negative rate was greatly reduced.

Ammoides pusilla Essential Oil: A Potent Inhibitor of the Growth of Fusarium avenaceum and Its Enniatin Production

Enniatins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species contaminating cereals and various agricultural commodities. The co-occurrence of these mycotoxins in large quantities with other mycotoxins such as trichothecenes and the possible synergies in toxicity could lead to serious food safety problems. Using the agar dilution method, Ammoides pusilla was selected among eight Tunisian plants for the antifungal potential of its essential oil (EO) on Fusarium avenaceum mycelial growth and its production of enniatins. Two EO batches were produced and analyzed by GC/MS-MS. Their activities were measured using both contact assays and fumigant tests (estimated IC50 were 0.1 µL·mL⁻¹ and 7.6 µL·L⁻¹, respectively). The A. pusilla EOs and their volatiles inhibited the germination of spores and the mycelial growth, showing a fungistatic but not fungicidal activity. The accumulation of enniatins was also significantly reduced (estimated IC50 were 0.05 µL·mL⁻¹ for the contact assays and 4.2 µL·L⁻¹ for the fumigation assays). The most active batch of EO was richer in thymol, the main volatile compound found. Thymol used as fumigant showed a potent fungistatic activity but not a significant antimycotoxigenic activity. Overall, our data demonstrated the bioactivity of A. pusilla EO and its high potential to control F. avenaceum and its enniatins production in agricultural commodities.

Mycotoxins—Prevention, Detection, Impact on Animal Health

Mycotoxins are defined as secondary metabolites of some species of mold fungi. They are present in many foods consumed by animals. Moreover, they most often contaminate products of plant and animal origin. Fungi of genera Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillum are most often responsible for the production of mycotoxins. They release toxic compounds that, when properly accumulated, can affect many aspects of breeding, such as reproduction and immunity, as well as the overall liver detoxification performance of animals. Mycotoxins, which are chemical compounds, are extremely difficult to remove due to their natural resistance to mechanical, thermal, and chemical factors. Modern methods of analysis allow the detection of the presence of mycotoxins and determine the level of contamination with them, both in raw materials and in foods. Various food processes that can affect mycotoxins include cleaning, grinding, brewing, cooking, baking, frying, flaking, and extrusion. Most feeding processes have a variable effect on mycotoxins, with those that use high temperatures having the greatest influence. Unfortunately, all these processes significantly reduce mycotoxin amounts, but they do not completely eliminate them. This article presents the risks associated with the presence of mycotoxins in foods and the methods of their detection and prevention.

Role of Sesamia nonagrioides and Ostrinia nubilalis as Vectors of Fusarium spp. and Contribution of Corn Borer-Resistant Bt Maize to Mycotoxin Reduction

Maize expressing Cry1Ab insecticidal toxin (Bt maize) is an effective method to control Sesamia nonagrioides and Ostrinia nubilalis, the most damaging corn borers of southern Europe. In this area, maize is prone to Fusarium infections, which can produce mycotoxins that pose a serious risk to human and animal health, causing significant economic losses in the agrifood industry. To investigate the influence of corn borer damage on the presence of Fusarium species and their mycotoxins, Bt maize ears and insect-damaged ears of non-Bt maize were collected from commercial fields in three Bt maize growing areas in Spain, and differences in contamination were assessed. Additionally, larvae of both borer species were collected to evaluate their role as vectors of these molds. Non-Bt maize ears showed significantly higher presence of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, and F. subglutinans than Bt maize ears. For the first time, Fusarium species have been isolated from larvae of the two species. The most frequently found mycotoxins in ears were fumonisins, with non-Bt ears being significantly more contaminated than those of Bt maize. High levels of fumonisins were shown to correlate with the occurrence of corn borers in the ear and the presence of F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum.

Fungal growth, patulin accumulation and volatile profile in 'Fuji Mishima' apples under controlled atmosphere and dynamic controlled atmosphere

The objective of this study was to evaluate fungal and patulin contamination, together with its correlation with the volatile compounds (VCs), in 'Fuji Mishima' apples (up to 25% decayed) under controlled atmosphere (CA) and dynamic controlled atmosphere with respiratory quotient (DCA-RQ) of 1.3 combined with different partial pressures of carbon dioxide (0.8, 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 pCO₂). Fruits were stored under the above conditions for 8 months at 0.5 °C plus 7 days shelf life at 20 °C. Toxigenic fungi and patulin accumulation were found in apples from all treatments. Penicillium expansum was the most prevalent species. For all storage conditions, patulin concentrations were above the maximum level allowed in Brazil (50  μg  kg^-1) with an exception of DCA-RQ1.3 + 0.8 kPa CO₂. This condition, with lower pCO₂, showed the lowest patulin accumulation, below the legal limit. The CA provided the highest patulin concentration (166 μg  kg^-1). It was observed that fungal growth could also contribute to changes in the volatile composition. Styrene and 3-methyl-1-butanol are considered P. expansum markers in some apple cultivars and were detected in the samples. However, it was not possible to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are biomarkers from P. expansum, because there were other fungi species present in all samples. In this study, styrene, n-decanoic acid, toluene, phenol and alpha-farnesene were the compounds that showed the most positive correlation with patulin accumulation. On the other hand, a negative correlation of patulin with acids has been shown, indicating that in treatments with a higher patulin concentration there were less acidic compounds.

Impact of Season, Region, and Traditional Agricultural Practices on Aflatoxins and Fumonisins Contamination in the Rice Chain in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of the crop season, cultivation region, and traditional pre- and post-harvest agricultural practices on mycotoxin contamination in the Mekong Delta rice chain of Vietnam. The results showed that aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) were predominantly detected in both paddy (n = 91/184, 50%) and white rice (n = 9/46, 20%). Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated paddy samples (n = 3) exceeded the regulatory threshold (5 µg·kg⁻¹). The contamination of paddy with AFs and FBs was not significantly different by growing seasons and cultivation localities. Evidently, in the winter–spring season, fumonisins frequently occurred in paddy planted in Can Tho, while AFs were found in paddy planted in regions Dong Thap and An Giang, and such toxins were absent in Can Tho. Furthermore, the selection of paddy varieties strongly impacted the occurrence of these toxins, especially AFs, for example, line DT8 and Jasmine were susceptible to AFs and FBs. In addition, poor pre- and post-harvest practices (such as crop residue-free fields, fertilizer application, unsanitary means of transport, delayed drying time) had an impact on the AFs and FBs contamination. Our findings can help to understand the dynamics of AFs and FBs in the rice chain in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, leading to the mitigation of the contamination of AFs and FBs in rice.

The toxicity mechanisms of DON to humans and animals and potential biological treatment strategies

Deoxynivalenol, also known as vomitotoxin, is produced by Fusarium, belonging to the group B of the trichothecene family. DON is widely polluted, mainly polluting cereal crops such as wheat, barley, oats, corn and related cereal products, which are closely related to lives of people and animals. At present, there have been articles summarizing DON induced toxicity, biological detoxification and the protective effect of natural products, but there is no systematic summary of this information. In addition to ribosome and endoplasmic reticulum, recent investigations support that mitochondrion is also organelles that DON can damage. DON can't directly act on mitochondria, but can indirectly cause mitochondrial damage and changes through other means. DON can indirectly inhibit mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial electron transport chain activity, ATP production, and mitochondrial transcription and translation. This review will provide the latest progress on mitochondria as the research object, and systematically summarizes all the toxic mechanisms of DON. Here, we discuss DON induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and various mitochondrial toxicity. For the toxicity of DON, many methods have been derived to prevent or reduce the toxicity. Biological detoxification and the antioxidant effect of natural products are potentially effective treatments for DON toxicity.

Contamination of Fusarium proliferatum and Aspergillus flavus in the Rice Chain Linked to Crop Seasons, Cultivation Regions, and Traditional Agricultural Practices in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

This study evaluates the influence of crop seasons, cultivation regions, and traditional agricultural practices on the occurrence of F. proliferatum and A. flavus in the rice chain in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. A survey on pre- and post-harvest practices was performed from 2017 to 2019 in parallel with sampling. Results showed that F. proliferatum (36.3%) and A. flavus (10%) were predominantly present throughout the rice chain. These fungi frequently occurred in winter–spring and autumn–winter crops in Can Tho paddy. Especially, F. proliferatum appeared both on the field and during transportation (50–100%), while A. flavus presented at all stages (10–33%). The occurrence of F. proliferatum reduced 70–27% after drying, depended on the seasons, compared to field and transportation stages and could not be detected anymore at further stages. Applying poor pre-harvest agricultural practices such as the use of certain varieties (Jasmine, DT8 varieties), combination of fertilizers (organic–inorganic), fields with crop debris, unhygienic boats, and delayed drying time of 8–12 h or 12–28 h resulted in an increase in fungal contamination on paddy. This study provides a detailed description of fungi contamination in crop seasons, cultivation regions, and agricultural practices, which may help in understanding the fungal dynamic and allow identification of good agricultural practices to mitigate the fungal contamination and potential mycotoxin production.

Co-Occurrence of 35 Mycotoxins: A Seven-Year Survey of Corn Grain and Corn Silage in the United States

Mycotoxins contaminate crops worldwide and play a role in animal health and performance. Multiple mycotoxins may co-occur which may increase the impact on the animal. To assess the multiple mycotoxin profile of corn (Zea mays), we conducted a 7-year survey of new crop corn grain and silage in the United States. A total of 711 grain and 1117 silage samples were collected between 2013 and 2019 and analyzed for the simultaneous presence of 35 mycotoxins using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The measured mean number of mycotoxins per sample were 4.8 (grain) and 5.2 (silage), ranging from 0 to 13. Fusaric acid (FA) was most frequently detected in 78.1 and 93.8% of grains and silages, respectively, followed by deoxynivalenol (DON) in 75.7 and 88.2% of samples. Fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15ADON) followed. The greatest (p < 0.05) co-occurrence was between FA and DON in 59.1% of grains and 82.7% of silages, followed by FA with FB1, DON with 15ADON, and FA with 15ADON. Although many samples had lower mycotoxin concentrations, 1.6% (grain) and 7.9% (silage) of tested samples had DON ≥ 5000 µg/kg. Fumonisins were detected ≥ 10,000 µg/kg in 9.6 and 3.9% of grain and silage samples, respectively. Concentrations in grain varied by year for eight mycotoxin groups (p < 0.05), while all 10 groups showed yearly variations in silage. Our survey suggest that multiple mycotoxins frequently co-occur in corn grain and silage in the United States, and some of the more prevalent mycotoxins are those that may not be routinely analyzed (i.e., FA and 15ADON). Assessment of multiple mycotoxins should be considered when developing management programs.

Determination of hardness for maize kernels based on hyperspectral imaging

In order to realize rapid and non-destructive detection of hardness for maize kernels, a method for quantitative hardness measurement was proposed based on hyperspectral imaging technology. Firstly, the regression model of hardness and moisture content was established. Then, based on reflectance hyperspectral imaging at wavelengths within 399.75-1005.80 nm, the prediction model of the moisture content was studied by the partial least squares regression (PLSR) based on the characteristic wavelengths, which was selected through successive projection algorithm (SPA). Finally, the hardness prediction model was validated by combing the prediction model of moisture content with the regression model of hardness. The coefficient of determination (R²), the root mean square error (RMSE) the ratio of performance-to-deviation (RPD) and the ratio of error range (RER) of hardness prediction were 0.912, 17.76 MPa, 3.41 and 14, respectively. Therefore, this study provided a method for rapid and non-destructive detection of hardness of maize kernels.

Toxigenic mycoflora, aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination of poultry feeds in Ghana

The study was undertaken to identify the major mycotoxigenic fungi, aflatoxin and fumonisin levels in prepared poultry feeds in Ghana. Three hundred and fifty (350) prepared feed samples were randomly collected from 133 commercial poultry farms, 76 feed processors and eight (8) feed vendors in three major poultry producing regions of Ghana over two seasons. Fungi were isolated using the serial dilution method on potato dextrose agar and identified using standard methods of identification. Total aflatoxin and fumonisin levels were quantified using AgraStrip® Total Aflatoxin and Fumonisin Quantitative test Watex® from RomerLab, USA. Eight (8) different fungi were isolated from the feed samples with isolation frequency as follows: Aspergillus flavus (47%), A. niger (24%), A. fumigatus (17%), A. oryzae (3%), A. tamarii (2%), Penicillium sp. (3%), Colletotrichum sp. (4%) and Rhizopus sp. (0.1%). Feed samples collected during the rainy season recorded higher mean colony counts (3.39 ± 0.29) than that of the dry season (1.10 ± 0.18). Total aflatoxin and fumonisin levels ranged from 0 to 118 ppb with a mean of 57.25 ± 2.55 ppb, and 0.28-15 ppm with a mean of 1.54 ± 0.12 ppm, respectively. The study revealed co-occurrence of aflatoxin and fumonisin in all the feed samples. Significant correlations (r = 0.298, r = 0.694) (p < 0.05) were observed among the aflatoxin and fumonisin levels and the fungi isolated. Seventy-four percent (74%) of all the feed samples exceeded the 15 ppb Ghana Standards Authority threshold, the EU regulatory limit of 20 ppb and the FAO/WHO recommended maximum permissible limit of 30 ppb for poultry feeds. Although fumonisin levels were less than the EU guidance values of 20 ppm for poultry feeds, 20% of the samples were higher than the FAO/WHO maximum tolerable daily intake limit of 2 ppm. Proper handling of prepared feeds and ingredients could prevent or minimize toxigenic fungi contamination and lower the likelihood of mycotoxin development in poultry feeds.

A review on the application of spectroscopy to the condiments detection: from safety to authenticity

Condiments are the magical ingredients that make the food present a richer taste. In recent years, due to the increasing consciousness of food safety and human health, much progress has been made in developing rapid and nondestructive techniques for the evaluation of food condiments safety, authentication, and traceability. The potential of spectroscopy techniques, such as near-infrared (NIR), mid-infrared (MIR), Raman, fluorescence, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and hyperspectral imaging techniques, has been widely enhanced by numerous applications in this field because of their advantages over other analytical techniques. Following a brief introduction of condiment and safety basics, this review mainly focuses on recent vibrational and atomic spectral applications for condiment nondestructive analysis and evaluation, including (1) chemical hazards detection; (2) microbiological hazards detection; and (3) authenticity concerns. The review shows current spectroscopies to be effective tools that will play indispensable roles for food condiment evaluation. In addition, online/real-time applications of these techniques promise to be a huge growth field in the near future.

The aflatoxin situation in Africa: Systematic literature review

Contamination of African staple foods is a major issue for human and animal health, nutrition, and trade. This review aimed to collect and synthesize the available evidence on geographical spread, scale of contamination, disease burden, economic impact, and mitigation measures for aflatoxins in Africa by way of a systematic literature review. This knowledge can enhance management strategies for the major challenges to combat aflatoxins. The search was conducted by applying a predefined search strategy, using bibliographic databases and websites, covering the period 2010 to 2018. Results showed that maize, peanuts, and animal feeds were the most studied commodities. For maize, all studies indicated mean AFB₁ to exceed the European Union legal limit. From studies on contamination levels and biomarkers, it is clear that overall exposure is high, leading to a substantial increase in long-term disease burden. In addition, concentrations in food occasionally can reach very high levels, causing acute aflatoxicoses. The trade-related impact of aflatoxin contamination was mainly evaluated from the standpoint of aflatoxin regulation affecting products imported from Africa. There was a limited number of studies on health-related economic impacts, pointing out a gap in peer-reviewed literature. A number of mitigation measures have been developed, but proof of cost-effectiveness or even costs alone of the practices is often lacking. We recommend more emphasis to be put in peer-reviewed studies on evidence-based cost-effective mitigation strategies for aflatoxins, on the scale and spread of the problem and its impacts on public health and economics for use in evidence-based policies.

Toxic Effect of Aflatoxins in Dogs Fed Contaminated Commercial Dry Feed: A Review

Since its first patent (1897), commercial dry feed (CDF) for dogs has diversified its formulation to meet the nutritional needs of different breeds, age, or special conditions and establish a foundation for integration of these pets into urban lifestyles. The risk of aflatoxicosis in dogs has increased because the ingredients used to formulate CDF have also proliferated, making it difficult to ensure the quality required of each to achieve the safety of the entire CDF. This review contains a description of the fungi and aflatoxins detected in CDF and the ingredients commonly used for their formulation. The mechanisms of action and pathogenic effects of aflatoxins are outlined; as well as the clinical findings, and macroscopic and microscopic lesions found in aflatoxicosis in dogs. In addition, alternatives for diagnosis, treatment, and control of aflatoxins (AF) in CDF are analyzed, such as biomarkers of effect, improvement of blood coagulation, rate of elimination of AF, control of secondary infection, protection of gastric mucosa, reduction of oxidative stress, use of chemo-protectors, sequestrants, grain-free CDF, biocontrol, and maximum permitted limits, are also included.

Post-harvest contamination of maize by Fusarium verticillioides and fumonisins linked to traditional harvest and post-harvest practices: A case study of small-holder farms in Vietnam

Together with conducive climatic factors, poor pre-harvest practices of ethnic small-holder farmers are a major cause of the contamination of maize by Fusarium verticillioides and fumonisins. The proliferation of this field pathogen and the accumulation of its mycotoxins in post-harvest maize caused by ethnic post-harvest practices of subsistence farms have received little attention. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of traditional harvest and post-harvest practices on the proliferation of F. verticillioides and fumonisins contamination in post-harvest maize of two ethnic groups: Ede and Kinh from the central highlands of Vietnam. In parallel with analysis, a survey on harvest and post-harvest practices of these farmers was conducted from late December 2017 to early January 2019. As a result, four effective post-harvest practices at mitigating the contamination were defined: (1) removal of damaged cobs at harvest, (2) transport of maize home after harvest, (3) shelling maize away from fields, and (4) drying maize on cement yards. These practices were better implemented by Kinh households than Ede households reducing the post-harvest contamination of maize with F. verticillioides and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁), FB₂, and FB₃. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement with respect to inadequate open-air drying method, poor storage infrastructure, and poor moisture content management as these correlated to the proliferation of F. verticillioides. Finally, the presence of fumonisins together with aflatoxins in some samples at the storage phase might cause a severe impact on human health.

Low-cost grain sorting technologies to reduce mycotoxin contamination in maize and groundnut

The widespread contamination of foods by mycotoxins continues to be a public health hazard in sub-Saharan Africa, with maize and groundnut being major sources of contamination. This study was undertaken to assess the hypothesis that grain sorting can be used to reduce mycotoxin contamination in grain lots by removing toxic kernels. We tested a set of sorting principles and methods for reducing mycotoxin levels in maize and groundnut from a variety of genotypes and environments. We found that kernel bulk density (KBD) and 100-kernel weight (HKW) were associated with the levels of aflatoxins (AF) and fumonisins (FUM) in maize grain. A low-cost sorter prototype (the ‘DropSort’ device) that separated maize grain based on KBD and HKW was more effective in reducing FUM than AF. We then evaluated the effectiveness of DropSorting when combined with either size or visual sorting. Size sorting followed by DropSorting was the fastest method for reducing FUM to under 2 ppm, but was not effective in reducing AF levels in maize grain to under 20 ppb, especially for heavily AF-contaminated grain. Analysis of individual kernels showed that high -AF maize kernels had lower weight, volume, density, length, and width and higher sphericity than those with low AF. Single kernel weight was the most significant predictor of AF concentration. The DropSort excluded kernels with lower single kernel weight, volume, width, depth, and sphericity. We also found that visual sorting and bright greenish-yellow fluorescence sorting of maize single kernels were successful in separating kernels based on AF levels. For groundnut, the DropSort grouped grain based on HKW and did not significantly reduce AF concentrations, whereas size sorting and visual sorting were much more effective.

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The DropSort prototype was more effective in reducing fumonisins than aflatoxins.

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DropSorting following size sorting was effective in reducing fumonisins below 2 ppm.

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Visual sorting was more effective in reducing fumonisins than aflatoxins in maize.

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Size and visual sorting separated groundnut grain based on aflatoxin levels.

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Single kernel mass is the most significant determinant of AF levels.

Ficus plants: State of the art from a phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological perspective

Ficus genus is typically tropical plants and is among the earliest fruit trees cultivated by humans. Ficus carica L. is the common fig, Ficus benjamina L. is the weeping fig, and Ficus pumila L. is the creeping fig. These species are commonly used in traditional medicine for a wide range of diseases and contain rich secondary metabolites that have shown diverse applications. This comprehensive review describes for Ficus genus the phytochemical compounds, traditional uses and contemporary pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiulcer, and anticonvulsant. An extended survey of the current literature (Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed) has been carried out as part of the current work. The trends in the phytochemistry, pharmacological mechanisms and activities of Ficus genus are overviewed in this manuscript: antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, antiseizure and anti-Parkinson's diseases, cytotoxic and antioxidant. Health-promoting effects, recent human clinical studies, safety and adverse effects of Ficus plants also are covered. The medical potential and long-term pharmacotherapeutic use of the genus Ficus along with no serious reported adverse events, suggests that it can be considered as being safe.

Traditional and Artisanal Beverages in Nigeria: Microbial Diversity and Safety Issues

A review of up to 90 articles on the microorganisms associated with important artisanal or traditional beverages in Nigeria was carried out. This resulted in an overview of the prevalent microorganisms associated with soymilk, nono (fermented cow milk), tiger nut milk, yoghurt, kunu, zobo, palm wine and the local beers pito and brukutu. The bacteria genera, namely Bacillus, Escherichia, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus, were detected in all nine beverages. On the contrary, this survey resulted in finding that the genera Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Candida, and Penicillium were the eukaryotic microorganisms isolated in all beverages. The occurrence of fungal isolates, which can be responsible for producing mycotoxins, is a concern and shows the need for post-production tests. Overall, there is a low prevalence of bacteria associated with hygiene, especially the Escherichia genus in alcoholic beverages such as palm wine, pito and burukutu, which may be due both to a low acidity and high ethanol content. However, the prevalence of hygiene indicator genera was higher in nonalcoholic drinks, probably because of incorrect practices during processing. The magnitude of the production and sales of unregulated local beverages in Nigeria has reached the stage where significant regulation and food safety standards are required to safeguard public health. An opportunity exists to monitor and characterize the microbial flora of the artisanal beverages using molecular methods at all stages of production and storage.

Effect of thermal processing and traditional flavouring mixture on mycotoxin reduction in pistachio

The effect of heating (roasting and microwave radiation heating) along with a traditional pistachio flavouring mixture (containing verjuice, thyme extract, and sodium chloride) was investigated on reducing aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in pistachios. The naturally and artificially contaminated samples were soaked in the flavouring mixture (for 5, 10 and 24 h) and then subjected to roasting (at 120 and 150 °C for 50 min) and heating by microwave radiation (6 and 10 min). The residual mycotoxins were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that all treatments were able to reduce mycotoxin content (aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 and OTA) significantly (P<0.05), up to 85.7±2.5% (during roasting) and up to 72.5±2.6% (during heating by microwave radiation). The highest reduction of AFs and OTA (ranging from 51.7±2.3 to 85.7±2.5%) was found when the contaminated (naturally and artificially) samples were soaked in the traditional mixture for 24 h and roasted at 150 °C. It could be concluded that the traditional flavouring method in combination with the roasting process or heating by microwave radiation could be applied as a useful and safe method for mycotoxin degradation in pistachio. Although, complete elimination of mycotoxins was not achieved, the method reduced mycotoxins more than 60% without adverse effect on the taste and appearance of pistachios.

Interaction of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus with Salmonella spp. isolated from peanuts

Although Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are the main microorganisms of concern in peanuts, due to aflatoxin contamination, several Salmonella outbreaks from this product have been reported over the last ten decades. Thus, it is important to understand the relationship between microorganisms to predict, manage and estimate the diversity in the peanut supply chain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate aflatoxin production during the co-cultivation of Aspergillus section Flavi and Salmonella both isolated from peanuts. Three strains of A. section Flavi: A. flavus producing aflatoxin B, A. flavus non-producing aflatoxin and A. parasiticus producing aflatoxin B and G were co-cultivated with seven serotypes of Salmonella of which six were isolated from the peanut supply chain (S. Muenster, S. Miami, S. Glostrup, S. Javiana, S. Oranienburg and S. Yoruba) and one was S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028. First of all, each Salmonella strain was inoculated by pour plate (ca. 5 log cfu/mL) in PDA (potato dextrose agar). Then, each pre-cultured fungus was inoculated in the center of the petri dish. The plates were incubated at 30 °C and the fungal colony diameter was measured once a day for 7 days. As a control each Aspergillus strain was cultivated in the absence of Salmonella culture. All three strains of Aspergillus with absence of Salmonella (control) reached the maximum colony diameter and their growth rate was influenced when co-cultivated (p < 0.05) with all Salmonella serotypes tested. The maximum inhibition in the colony diameter was 20% for A. flavus aflatoxin B producer and A. parasiticus, and 18% for A. flavus non- aflatoxin producer when cultivated with Salmonella. However, no significant difference (p < 0.05) in reduction of colony diameter was observed among the Salmonella serotypes. Aflatoxin production was determined previously, by using the agar plug technique on thin layer chromatography (TLC). The production of aflatoxin G by A. parasiticus in co-cultivation with Salmonella was not observed. On the other hand, A. flavus preserved their characteristics of aflatoxin B production. The quantification of aflatoxin reduction by Salmonella interaction was evaluated using HPLC method. There was a maximum reduction of aflatoxin production of 88.7% and 72.9% in A. flavus and A. parasiticus, respectively, when cultivated with Salmonella. These results indicate that some serotypes of Salmonella may interfere with aflatoxin production and fungal growth of A. flavus and A. parasiticus in the peanut supply chain.

Combined (d)SPE-QuEChERS Extraction of Mycotoxins in Mixed Feed Rations and Analysis by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

The objective of this work was the development of a methodology capable of simultaneously determine 26 mycotoxins in mixed feed rations collected in 20 dairy farms. A sample preparation methodology based on a combination of (d)SPE and QuEChERS extractions was used. Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry was employed for both identification and quantification purposes. To this respect, a powerful workflow based on data-independent acquisition, consisting of fragmenting all precursor ions entering the mass spectrometer in narrow m/z isolation windows (SWATH), was implemented. SWATH data file then contains all the information that would be acquired in a multitude of different experimental approaches in a single all-encompassing dataset. Analytical method performance was evaluated in terms of linearity, repeatability and matrix effect. Relative recoveries were also measured, giving values above 80% for most compounds. Matrix-matched calibration was carried out and enabled reaching the low ng mL-1 level for many mycotoxins. The observed matrix effect, in most cases suppressive, reached even values higher than 60%. The repeatability was also adequate, showing a relative standard deviation lower than 10%. All unified samples analyzed showed co-occurrence of two or more mycotoxins, recurrently zearalenone, fumonisin B1, and β-zearalenol, with an occurrence frequency ranging from 60% to 90%.

Production of aflatoxin B1 and B2 by Aspergillus flavus in inoculated wheat using typical craft beer malting conditions

The production of aflatoxin (AF) B₁ and B₂ was determined during malting of wheat grains artificially contaminated with a toxigenic A. flavus strain (CCDCA 11553) isolated from craft beer raw material. Malting was performed in three steps (steeping, germination and kilning) following standard Central European Commission for Brewing Analysis procedures. AFB₁ and AFB₂ were quantified in eleven samples collected during the three malting steps and in malted wheat. Both, AFB₁ and AFB₂ were produced at the beginning of steeping and detected in all samples. The levels of AFB₁ ranged from 229.35 to 455.66 μg/kg, and from 5.65 to 13.05 μg/kg for AFB₂. The AFB₂ increased during steeping, while no changes were observed in AFB_1. Otherwise, AFB₁ decreased during germination and AFB₂ did not change. AFB₁ and AFB₂ increased after 16 h of kilning at 50 °C and decreased at the end of kilning, when the temperature reached 80 °C. The levels of AFB₁ wheat malt were lower than those detected in wheat grains during steeping; however, levels of both AFB₁ (240.46 μg/kg) and AFB₂ (6.36 μg/kg) in Aspergillus flavus inoculated wheat malt exceeded the limits imposed by the regulatory agencies for cereals and derived products.