Research Publications (Food Safety)

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Thunbergia laurifolia extract (TLE) in the diets of Cherry Valley ducklings. Our investigation covered growth indicators, blood biochemical indices, meat quality, intestinal morphology, immune response, and CP450 enzyme-related gene expression. We conducted the study with 180 seven-day-old Cherry Valley ducks, randomly divided into five dietary treatments.

The fungi in water distribution systems and drinking water have already been reported and can produce mycotoxins. In this study, a wash-free immunochromatographic test strip (ICTS) based on magnetic rice husk biochar for the ultrasensitive detection of Aflatoxin B1(AFB1) in water and grain has been developed. Magnetic rice husk biochar (MB) was a green nanomaterial, which was synthesized from rice hull and characterized. Fe3O4 was formed within the amorphous and granular MB.

Food crops around the world are commonly contaminated with Aspergillus flavus, which can produce the carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The objective of this study is to test an X-ray irradiation sterilization method for studying AFB1 in contaminated maize samples in the laboratory. Maize that had been naturally contaminated with 300 ppb AFB1 by the growth of aflatoxigenic A. flavus was ground and then irradiated at 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 kGy. A.

Abstract BACKGROUND Organic trace minerals (TM) offer superior nutritional benefits because of their stable structure, making their addition to broiler diets potentially beneficial during challenging periods such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination.

Yogurt, a milk-derived product, is susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. While various methods have been developed for the analysis of dairy products, only a few have been specifically validated for yogurt. In addition, these methods are primarily focus on detecting aflatoxins and zearalenone. This study aimed to conduct a preliminary investigation into the presence of regulated, emerging, and modified mycotoxins in natural and oat yogurts available in the Spanish market.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced during the growth, storage, and transportation of crops contaminated by fungi and are physiologically toxic to humans and animals. Aflatoxin, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin, patulin, and fumonisin are the most common mycotoxins and can cause liver and nervous system damage, immune system suppression, and produce carcinogenic effects in humans and animals that have consumed contaminated food.

UPLC-MS/MS analytical conditions for the analysis of aflatoxins in spices were optimized and validated in this study. Liquid-liquid partition-based protocols for the cleaning up of extracts using common organic solvents such as acetonitrile, hexane, and ethyl acetate were developed and validated. The developed liquid-liquid partition methods were compared with immuno-affinity column and QuEChERS clean-up methods for the UPLC-MS/MS analysis of aflatoxins in 8 spices.

Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FBs), ochratoxin A (OTA), T-2 toxin (T-2), and zearalenone (ZEN), can contaminate animal feeds and pose risks to animal health and production performance. These mycotoxins are commonly found in cereals and grains, with the increased use of cereals in pet food, there is a rising concern about mycotoxin contamination among pet owners.

Summary Decades of studies have shown that Bt corn, by reducing insect damage, has lower levels of mycotoxins (fungal toxins), such as aflatoxin and fumonisin, than conventional corn. We used crop insurance data to infer that this benefit from Bt crops extends to reducing aflatoxin risk in peanuts: a non‐Bt crop.

Abstract BACKGROUND Chestnut fruit quality is affected by fungal contamination. The study of the patterns of contamination in the postharvest is crucial to individuate the critical phases and propose solutions. To understand how fungal colonization varies on fruits, the composition of mycobiota was investigated in postharvest handling and in between tissues (shell and kernel). RESULTS Fungal sequences were clustered into 308 operational taxonomic units (OTUs).

Background To protect public and animal health against risks provoked by aflatoxins contained therein, maximum limits for aflatoxins are defined. Limit values vary depending on the intended use and regulatory authority, therefore quantitative detection is essential.

The use of microorganisms to manage aflatoxin contamination is a gentle and effective approach. The aim of this study was to test the removal of AFB1 from AFB1-contaminated peanut meal by a strain of Meyerozyma guilliermondii AF01 screened by the authors and to optimize the conditions of the biocontrol. A regression model with the removal ratio of AFB1 as the response value was established by means of single-factor and response surface experiments.

Contamination by aflatoxins and ochratoxin A of traditional Korean fermented soybean paste (Doenjang) is a serious food safety issue. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of commercial Koji, a microbial starter culture used for fermentation, on mycotoxin contamination during Doenjang production at in vitro and scaled-up fermentation levels.

This study aimed to protect maize crops from infection and production of Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) aflatoxin B1(AFB1), using the ordinary and nanoscale extracts of Agaricus spp. HPLC technology showed that the isolate taken from Musayyib district which coded with (AFA5) was a highest toxin producer.

Mycotoxins, especially aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FMB1), are common contaminants in cereal-based foods. Instances of contamination are predicted to increase due to the current challenges induced by climate change. Despite the health benefits of whole grains, the presence of mycotoxins in bran remains a concern. Nonetheless, previous research indicates that wheat bran can adsorb mutagens.

Aspergillus flavus and its carcinogenic secondary metabolites, aflatoxins, not only cause serious losses in the agricultural economy, but also endanger human health. Rhein, a compound extracted from the Chinese herbal medicine Rheum palmatum L. (Dahuang), exhibits good anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-oxidative effects. However, its effect and underlying mechanisms against Aspergillus flavus have not yet been fully illustrated.

Background One of the most carcinogenic compounds found in milk is aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), which is formed in lactating mammals after the ingestion of feeds that have been contaminated with aflatoxin B1 and then excreted into milk. As such, AFM1’s concentration is limited at the both the national and international levels by national legislation or internationally-adopted Codex Alimentarius standards, respectively.

Fresh maize kernels are dried to reduce post‐harvest food loss while preserving product quality. Performance and quality are analyzed together in a 4E analysis and quality assessment (4E + Q analysis) being vital for evaluating the drying system's impact on product quality. Abstract The world's population is projected to increase, impacting a 60% rise in food production demand by 2050, including the demand for maize.

This study developed an affordable electrochemical sensor using thin MXene sheets for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) detection. MXene was etched to form single or small layers, and a paper electrode was created via vacuum filtration. The sensor, with specific aptamer modification, showed wide detection range, selectivity, and reproducibility in detecting AFB1 in real samples.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a prevalent mycotoxin present in feed ingredients. In this study, we investigated the effects of Lactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) on the Landes geese exposed to AFB1.

Vegetable oils are essential constituent of the daily dietary intake. Nevertheless, they often contain aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and benzo(a)pyrene (BAP). Physical adsorption is the most commonly used detoxification method in the vegetable oils industry. Regrettably, the previously reported adsorbents have exhibited limited efficacy, rendering them inadequate for meeting the requirements of large-scale production of edible oils.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is an unavoidable environmental toxin. The accumulation of AFB1 and its metabolites in the liver poses a threat to both human and animal health. Curcumin exhibits anti-oxidative, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. There is no report on the mechanism regarding how curcumin relived liver necroptosis in chickens induced by AFB1 based on the regulatory network of ceRNA.

Aflatoxin B1, a major global food safety concern, is produced by toxigenic fungi during crop growing, drying, and storage, and shows increasing annual prevalence. This study aimed to detect aflatoxin B1 in chili samples using ATR–FTIR coupled with machine learning algorithms. We found that 83.6% of the chili powder samples were contaminated with Aspergillus and Penicillium species, with aflatoxin B1 levels ranging from 7.63 to 44.32 µg/kg.