Research Publications (Food Safety)

Analysis of body fluids and tissues of aflatoxin exposed individuals for the presence of aflatoxins and aflatoxin metabolites has emerged as a reliable indicator of exposure and metabolism of aflatoxins. However, current aflatoxin biomarkers are not appropriate for investigating the long-term effects of aflatoxin exposure. In this explorative study, we investigated the analysis of hair as a complementary or alternative matrix for the assessment of biomarkers of long-term aflatoxin exposure.

Author(s): Yanyi Song, Yanan Wang, Yongpeng Guo, Yingying Qiao, Qiugang Ma, Cheng Ji, Lihong Zhao

Dietary copper supplementation in the feed of piglets generally exceeds 250–800 mg/kg, where a higher quantity (>250 mg/kg) can promote growth and improve feed conversion. Despite the reported positive effects, 90% of copper is excreted and can accumulate and pollute the soil. Data indicate that fungi have a biosorptive capacity for copper.

Author(s): Bolei Yang, Li Li, Hairong Geng, Gang Wang, Chenxi Zhang, Shuo Yang, Yueju Zhao, Fuguo Xing, Yang Liu

Author(s): Yong-Kyoung Kim, Insuck Baek, Kyung-Min Lee, Jianwei Qin, Geonwoo Kim, Byeung Kon Shin, Diane Chan, Timothy J. Herrman, Soon-kil Cho, Moon S. Kim

Journal of Food Safety, EarlyView. Abstract

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, Accepted Article. Abstract
Background

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most harmful mycotoxin produced by filamentous fungi and presents a serious threat to human and animal health. Therefore, it is essential to protect humans and animals from AFB1-induced acute and chronic toxicity. In this study, Pseudomonas strain m29 having a high efficiency of AFB1 transformation was isolated from soil. The transformation ratio by m29 was more than 97% within 24 h, and the optimum temperature for transformation was 37°C.

The presence of mycotoxins in dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS), a by-product of bioethanol production from maize, has been a matter of concern due to the increasing global utilisation of this ingredient in animal feed. In this study, 186 samples of maize DDGS produced in Brazil were analysed for the presence of major mycotoxins: aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), fumonisins (B1 and B2), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) and ochratoxin A (OTA).

Research regarding aflatoxin contamination levels in Peru is limited, although aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) require surveillance because of their toxicity. European regulations state that the harmonised maximum level (ML) is 5 μg/kg for AFB1 in feedstuffs and 0.05 μg/kg for AFM1 in milk. Our study aimed to determine the annual variation levels of AFB1 in ingredients used in feedstuffs for dairy cows and those of AFM1 in milk at a typical intensive dairy farm in Northern Peru.

Due to the carcinogenic character of aflatoxins when present in foods, these compounds are considered a risk to human health. This systematic review aimed at compiling the available research data on detection and quantification of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk and common types of cheese produced in Mexico in the past two decades. A limited number of studies were found that matched the purpose of our review.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, mycotoxicoses constitute the second most pressing food safety problem worldwide, with most cases occurring in developing countries. Maize (Zea mays L.), the main staple for many Latin Americans, is one of the best suitable substrates for mycotoxigenic Aspergillus fungi. Aflatoxins (AFs) produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus, are of significant concern, especially in developing countries.

The objective of this study was to evaluate biochemical parameters and histopathology of liver in Matrinxã (Brycon cephalus) and Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) fish chronically exposed to dietary aflatoxins. Fish feed was artificially contaminated with aflatoxins and the treatments were: Control – feed without toxin; Treatment A – feed + 10 μg aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)/kg; Treatment B – feed + 20 μg AFB1/kg; and Treatment C – feed + 50 μg AFB1/kg.

The presence of AFM 1 in milk is a public health concern, since milk is a significant part of human diets across nations.   In economies where monitoring is low or non-existent, the possibility of contamination with AFM 1 might be increased. Our study aimed to detect and quantify the concentration of AFM 1 in fluid milk and milk drink of different brands, fat contents, packages and, heat treatments sold in the Metropolitan Area of Asunción.

In this review, an analysis focusing on mycotoxin determination in infant breast milk and infant food has been summarised for the last fifteen years of research focused on the intended population group of 1–9 months. The objective was to know the level of exposure of the child population to an estimated daily intake (EDI) of mycotoxins from the consumption of habitual foods. The EDI was compared with the tolerable daily intake (TDI) established by EFSA to estimate risk.

Author(s): Jia Chen, Zhiming Lv, Ziyang Cheng, Tiancheng Wang, Peng Li, Aibo Wu, Eugenie Nepovimova, Miao Long, Wenda Wu, Kamil Kuca

Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, Accepted Article. ABSTRACT

The present study was a pilot study that aimed to evaluate the occurrence of aflatoxins (AF) in the human diets and its presence in human urine as a metabolite (aflatoxin M1; AFM1). Volunteers from the Amazon region were evaluated before and after the consumption of 2 Brazil nuts/day for thirty days. At the end of 30 days (t=30) without the consumption of Brazil nuts, 9 samples (30%) were positive for AFM1.

Concerns regarding food safety and ‘One Health’ are increasing globally. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a human carcinogenic toxin, is excreted by lactating animals in their milk after consumption of feed contaminated with aflatoxin B1. The present cross-sectional study aimed to determine the occurrence of AFM1 in cattle and buffalo milk produced in rural and peri-urban areas under different agro-climatic conditions of Chhattisgarh, India, and assesses human health risks.

The aim of this study was to conduct a first evaluation on the co-occurrence of aflatoxins (AF) M1, B1, B2, G1 and G2; fumonisins (F) B1 and B2; deoxynivalenol (DON); de-epoxydeoxinivalenol (DOM-1); ochratoxin A (OTA); zearalenone (ZEN); α-zearalenol (α-ZEL); and β-zearalenol (β-ZEL) in 68 samples of fluid milk consumed in Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil. The probable daily intake (PDI) was also calculated for each mycotoxin evaluated.

Author(s): Runxian Li, Yang Wen, Luqing Yang, Anguo Liu, Fenglai Wang, Pingli He

Author(s): Omar Tawfik Kholif, Ahmed Salem Sebaei, Fawzy I. Eissa, Osama H. Elhamalawy

Author(s): Ruben A. Chavez, Xianbin Cheng, Tim J. Herrman, Matthew J. Stasiewicz

Fumonisin B (FB) and other fumonisins, deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEN) are mycotoxins (secondary metabolites of fungi) present at high levels of contamination in poultry diets and threatening the sustainability of the poultry industry and egg safety for consumers. However, residual mycotoxins in breeder eggs and their effects on chicken progeny and gizzard ulcerations remain unclear.

Author(s): Hongwen Xu, Jiadi Sun, Haiming Wang, Yinzhi Zhang, Xiulan Sun