Research Publications (Food Safety)

Approximately 25% of cereal grains present with contamination caused by fungi and the presence of mycotoxins that may cause severe adverse effects when consumed. Maize has been genetically engineered to present different traits, such as fungal or insect resistance and herbicide tolerance.

Mycotoxin emergence and co-occurrence trends in Canadian grains are dynamic and evolving in response to changing weather patterns within each growing season. The mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenone are the dominant mycotoxins detected in grains grown in Eastern Canada. Two potential emerging mycotoxins of concern are sterigmatocystin, produced by Aspergillus versicolor, and diacetoxyscirpenol, a type A trichothecene produced by a number of Fusarium species.

Nanotechnology‐based approaches for mycotoxin detection in food and feed. Abstract Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain molds and fungi that contaminate various food commodities, posing serious adverse effects on humans and animals. Aflatoxin, ochratoxin, trichothecene, fumonisin, zearalenone, patulin, and citrinin are some of the major mycotoxins affecting food and feed.

The debranning process, at an industrial scale, was applied to grains of two wheat cultivars to determine its effect on Fusarium mycotoxin content and antioxidant activity. Grain samples from the BRS Marcante and BRS Reponte wheat cultivars, naturally contaminated by Fusarium, were used in the study.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is among the most potent genotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins and is a major source of distress for the growing poultry sector. On the other hand, distillery yeast sludge or distillery sludge (DS) is a byproduct of molasses-based industries. It is often treated as a waste despite containing abundant nutrients particularly protein, basic amino acids, and vitamins along with other macro and micronutrients.

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.

Environmental factors influence fungal growth and mycotoxin production in stored grains. However, the concentrations of free mycotoxins and their conjugates and how they are impacted by different interacting environment conditions have not been previously examined.

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.

The fungal genus Fusarium contains many toxigenic pathogens of maize with associated yield losses, reduction of grain quality, and accumulation of mycotoxins in harvested grains.

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.

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.

Mycotoxin contamination in agricultural products is a significant food safety and public health concern globally. However, little is known about the occurrence and levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) in agri-food product in Chile.

Using alternative ingredients or low-quality grain grades to reduce feeding costs for pig diets can introduce mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) into feed, which is known to induce anorexia, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Adding vitamin 25(OH)D3 or vitamins E and C to the feed could increase piglets’ immune system to alleviate the effects of DON.

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.

Maize (Zea mays L.) stands as a vital staple food globally, holding significant nutritional and economic value. However, its susceptibility to mycotoxin contamination under stressful environmental conditions poses a considerable concern. This study aimed to assess the quality and pasting characteristics of maize varieties across two distinct regions and examine the occurrence of mycotoxins influenced by climatic factors.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the mycotoxins in the agriculture and livestock sectors. The poultry sector suffered from significant economic losses due to the adverse impacts of OTA on the growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and livability. Thus, the present investigation aimed to determine the impact of chamomile essential oil supplementation against OTA toxicity in growing quails. 360 one‐week‐old growing quails were distributed into six groups (n = 60) with four replicates of 15 birds.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a destructive disease caused by several species of Fusarium, such as Fusarium graminearum and F. asiaticum. FHB affects cereal crops, including wheat, barley, and rice, worldwide. Fusarium-infected kernels not only cause reduced yields but also cause quality loss by producing mycotoxins, such as trichothecenes and zearalenone, which are toxic to animals and humans.

The intestinal epithelium performs essential physiological functions, such as nutrient absorption, and acts as a barrier to prevent the entry of harmful substances. Mycotoxins are prevalent contaminants found ...

Abstract Nanosensors have become an indispensable tool in the food sector due to their specificity and sensitivity. The biosensor consists of a transducer coupled with a biorecognition component to transform biological signal into digital signal. Nanobiosensors have been widely used for sensing toxic chemicals such as pesticide residues and pathogenic microbes owing to their accurate sensitivity in an affordable manner, which gives more hope to the food industry on their applications.

Potato dry rot is a global problem caused by Fusarium species. Symptoms of dry rot include wrinkled brown to black patches of tissue. Fusarium spp. infection in potato tubers results in the formation of mycotoxins. Fungi that cause dry rot are commonly Fusarium sambucinum and Fusarium solani.

Mycotoxins are potent fungal toxins that frequently contaminate agricultural crops and foods. Mycotoxin exposure is frequently reported in humans, and children are known to be particularly at risk of exceeding safe levels of exposure. Urinary biomonitoring is used to assess overall dietary exposure to multiple mycotoxins. This study aims to quantify multi-mycotoxin exposure in UK children and to identify major food groups contributing to exposure.

Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites synthesized by various filamentous fungi genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Claviceps, and Alternaria, are potent toxic compounds. Their production is contingent upon specific environmental conditions during fungal growth. Arising as byproducts of fungal metabolic processes, mycotoxins exhibit significant toxicity, posing risks of acute or chronic health complications.

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is an important and devastating disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) caused by the fungus Fusarium pseudograminearum and related pathogens. Using two distinct susceptible cultivars, we investigated the isolation frequencies of F. pseudograminearum and quantified its biomass accumulation and the levels of the associated toxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and DON-3-glucoside (D3G) in inoculated field-grown wheat plants. We detected F.