Research Publications (Food Safety)

Phomopsins are mycotoxins mainly infesting lupines, with phomopsin A (PHOA) being the main mycotoxin. PHOA is produced by Diaporthe toxica, formerly assigned as toxigenic Phomopsis leptostromiformis, causing infections in lupine plants and harvested seeds. However, Diaporthe species may also grow on other grain legumes, similar to Aspergillus westerdijkiae as an especially potent ochratoxin A (OTA) producer.

Food security goes beyond food being available; the food needs to be free of contaminants. Trichothecenes mycotoxins, produced by Fusarium fungus, are. among the most frequently found contaminants of wheat. In this study, we evaluated the production of trichothecenes Deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), and nivalenol (NIV) by Fusarium meridionale, F. austroamericanum, and F.

Olive oil can be contaminated by fungal toxins; therefore, it is necessary to monitor the incidence of mycotoxins in this oil. In the present study, the pooled prevalence of detectable aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in olive oil was evaluated using systematic review and meta-analysis approach from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 2020 (30 years study). The search was conducted via electronic databases involving Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Agris and Agricola.

The effectiveness of a UV-A light emitting diode system (LED) to reduce the concentrations of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin M1 (AFB1, AFM1) in whole milk (WM) was investigated. Irradiation experiments were conducted using an LED system operating at 365 nm. Known concentrations of aflatoxins were spiked in WM and irradiated at quantified UV doses, which was calculated based on the average volumetric intensity.

The study presents chitosan nanoemulsion encapsulating Cinnamomum glaucescens essential oil (CGEO) as a novel green preservative against food born fungi and aflatoxin B1 production in food system. GC–MS analysis suggested 1,8-cineole (46.56%), safrole (17.64%) as major and terpineol (5.88%), 4-terpineol (4.68%), β-pinene (2.08%), β-thujene (2.03%), and linalool (2.02%) as minor components of CGEO.

Maize grown in both North and South America are now predominantly genetically modified (GM) cultivars with some resistance to herbicide, pesticide, or both.