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Occurrence, Toxicity, and Analysis of Major Mycotoxins in Food

Author

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  • Ahmad Alshannaq

    (Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
    Food Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA)

  • Jae-Hyuk Yu

    (Food Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
    Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA)

Abstract

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain filamentous fungi (molds). These low molecular weight compounds (usually less than 1000 Daltons) are naturally occurring and practically unavoidable. They can enter our food chain either directly from plant-based food components contaminated with mycotoxins or by indirect contamination from the growth of toxigenic fungi on food. Mycotoxins can accumulate in maturing corn, cereals, soybeans, sorghum, peanuts, and other food and feed crops in the field and in grain during transportation. Consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated food or feed can cause acute or chronic toxicity in human and animals. In addition to concerns over adverse effects from direct consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated foods and feeds, there is also public health concern over the potential ingestion of animal-derived food products, such as meat, milk, or eggs, containing residues or metabolites of mycotoxins. Members of three fungal genera, Aspergillus , Fusarium , and Penicillium , are the major mycotoxin producers. While over 300 mycotoxins have been identified, six (aflatoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins, ochratoxins, and patulin) are regularly found in food, posing unpredictable and ongoing food safety problems worldwide. This review summarizes the toxicity of the six mycotoxins, foods commonly contaminated by one or more of them, and the current methods for detection and analysis of these mycotoxins.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmad Alshannaq & Jae-Hyuk Yu, 2017. "Occurrence, Toxicity, and Analysis of Major Mycotoxins in Food," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-20, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:6:p:632-:d:101374
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mirjana Lončar & Dajana Gašo-Sokač & Maja Molnar, 2023. "Coumarin derivatives as antifungal agents - A review," Czech Journal of Food Sciences, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 41(2), pages 79-91.
    2. Tomas Dropa & Zbynek Dzuman & Petra Jonatova, 2021. "Mycotoxins in oat flakes - changes during production and occurrence on the Czech market," Czech Journal of Food Sciences, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 39(2), pages 131-139.
    3. Wanglong Zheng & Wentong Fan & Nannan Feng & Nanyan Lu & Hui Zou & Jianhong Gu & Yan Yuan & Xuezhong Liu & Jianfa Bai & Jianchun Bian & Zongping Liu, 2019. "The Role of miRNAs in Zearalenone-Promotion of TM3 Cell Proliferation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-19, April.
    4. Hussein F. Hassan & Alissar Abou Ghaida & Abeer Charara & Hani Dimassi & Hussein Faour & Rayan Nahouli & Layal Karam & Nisreen Alwan, 2022. "Exposure to Ochratoxin A from Rice Consumption in Lebanon and United Arab Emirates: A Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-9, September.
    5. Kibugu, James & Mburu, D & Munga, L & Lusweti, F & Grace, D & Lindahl, J, 2022. "Mycotoxin hazards in the Kenyan food and feed market - A retrospective study," African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), vol. 22(01).
    6. Annika Djurle & Beth Young & Anna Berlin & Ivar Vågsholm & Anne-Lie Blomström & Jim Nygren & Anders Kvarnheden, 2022. "Addressing biohazards to food security in primary production," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(6), pages 1475-1497, December.
    7. Licia Pantano & Ladislao La Scala & Francesco Olibrio & Francesco Giuseppe Galluzzo & Carmelo Bongiorno & Maria Drussilla Buscemi & Andrea Macaluso & Antonio Vella, 2021. "QuEChERS LC–MS/MS Screening Method for Mycotoxin Detection in Cereal Products and Spices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Fulvio Ferri & Carlo Brera & Barbara De Santis & Giorgia Collini & Enrica Crespi & Francesca Debegnach & Angelo Gargano & Daniela Gattei & Ines Magnani & Pamela Mancuso & Stefania Mozzanica & Elvira T, 2020. "Association between Urinary Levels of Aflatoxin and Consumption of Food Linked to Maize or Cow Milk or Dairy Products," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-13, April.

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