How are aflatoxins harmful to humans and animals?

Aflatoxins pose a serious health risk to humans and livestock Aflatoxins are poisonous substances produced by certain kinds of fungi (moulds) that are found naturally all over the world; they can contaminate food crops and pose a serious health threat to humans and livestock.

What kind of crops are aflatoxins found in?

What are aflatoxins? Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi that are found on agricultural crops such as maize (corn), peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts. The main fungi that produce aflatoxins are Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which are abundant in warm and humid regions of the world.

How are aflatoxins regulated in the European Union?

EU framework. EU legislation protects consumers by: Setting maximum levels for aflatoxins in food and feed to ensure they are not harmful to human or animal health. Keeping mycotoxin levels as low as reasonably achievable following recommended good agricultural, storage and processing practices.

Where does aflatoxin M1 come from in the body?

It is produced both by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxin M1 is a major metabolite of aflatoxin B1 in humans and animals, which may be present in milk from animals fed with aflatoxin B1 contaminated feed.

Are there any outbreaks of aflatoxin in food?

It’s not a major stretch to think that the 2012 corn harvest could lead to the same situation here in the States this year as products hit the food shelves — but why wait for a deadly outbreak? Protect your health and learn all about the health risks of aflatoxin in food along with the foods you need to watch out for most.

How is aflatoxin B 1 measured in humans?

Detection in humans. There are two principal techniques that have been used most often to detect levels of aflatoxin in humans. The first method is measuring the AFB 1 – guanine adduct in the urine of subjects. The presence of this breakdown product indicates exposure to aflatoxin B 1 during the past 24 hours.

Is there any way to remove aflatoxin from grain?

Cleaning to remove lightweight or broken grains will often substantially reduce mycotoxin concentration in remaining grain. Ammoniation reduces aflatoxin contamination in grain but is not currently approved by the FDA for use in food animals in the USA because of uncertainty about by-products produced.