Evidence-based studies on Mycotoxin Levels in Cereals (PDF)

Academic Paper from the year 2023 in the subject Chemistry - Food Chemistry, , course: Review on Mycotoxin Issues in Ruminants Occurrence in Forages Effects of Mycotoxin Ingestion on Health Status and Animal Performance and Practical Str, language: English, abstract: This paper deals with the assessment of mycotoxin contamination in cereals, particularly focusing on organic cereals' lower mycotoxin levels compared to conventionally grown ones. It also examines the influence of environmental factors and agronomic practices on mycotoxin contamination. The study discusses the presence of various mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone, in Canadian breakfast cereals, highlighting the need to understand mycotoxin levels, co-occurrence, and mitigation strategies to enhance food safety. Furthermore, the paper explores the multifaceted origins of mycotoxin contamination in cereals, encompassing factors like natural co-occurrence, fungi, animal diets, agronomic and climatic conditions, and processing techniques. Strategies for mitigating mycotoxin contamination, including the use of biological control agents, bioactive plant metabolites, and breeding tolerant genotypes are emphasised. Overall, this paper underscores the significance of comprehending mycotoxin levels, co-occurrence patterns, and mitigation approaches to ensure cereal food safety and quality.