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.

Throughout history, Turkish coffee has been the most widely consumed type of coffee in Turkey. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the amount of ochratoxin A (OTA) present in Turkish coffee and to analyze any potential health hazards. A total of 41 Turkish coffees were collected and analyzed for OTA activity using a competitive enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop worldwide. Contaminated maize kernels pose a significant mycotoxin exposure risk for humans in Latin America. Fumonisins, the most prevalent mycotoxin in maize, typically occur during pre-harvest conditions leading to significant economic losses. Various factors, including weather conditions, may influence this contamination.

This review evaluates recent novel technologies for aflatoxins decontamination by physical method (microwave heating, Gama and electron beam irradiation, pulse light and ultraviolet), chemical method (ozone, natural plant extracts, and organic acids), and biological method (atoxigenic Aspergillus strains, Trichoderma spp., and bacteria and yeast). The study also highlights on the cutting‐edge technologies of smart packaging and artificial intelligence.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a type B trichothecene mycotoxin that is commonly found in cereals and grains worldwide. The presence of this fungal secondary-metabolite raises public-health concerns at both the agric...

Mycotoxin contamination in agri-food systems has been a serious global concern over the past few decades. Corn is easily contaminated by Ochratoxin A (OTA) and Zearalenone (ZEN), which seriously threaten the survival and health of humans and animals. Herein, a rapid and sensitive method of OTA and ZEN dual quantum dots (QDs) fluorescence immunochromatographic test strip was established in this study. OTA and ZEN fluorescence probes were prepared by carbodiimide.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi widespread in wheat, corn, barley and other grain crops, posing the potential for being toxic to human and animal health, especially in the small intestine, which is the primary target organ for defense against the invasion of toxins. This study firstly investigated DON contamination in a local area of a wheat production district in China.

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.

Pineapple Fruitlet Core Rot (FCR) is a fungal disease characterized by a multi-pathogen pathosystem. Recently, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Talaromyces stollii joined the set of FCR pathogens until then exclusively attributed to Fusarium ananatum. The particularity of FCR relies on the presence of healthy and diseased fruitlets within the same infructescence.

Reliable and rapid molecular diagnostic of two Aspergillus clades as an alternative to microbiological and biochemical methods to prevent health risk. Abstract The fungi of Aspergillus section Flavi can produce carcinogenic mycotoxins—aflatoxins (AFs)—of two types: types B and G (AFBs and AFGs). AFs are highly hazardous for human and animal health. Their levels in food and feed are therefore highly regulated, with a low acceptable limit for AF content.

This study aimed to investigate the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) degradation as a result of using cold plasma by dielectric barrier discharge method at atmospheric pressure with gases (air, nitrogen, argon, and nitrogen + argon) at different times (0, 5, 15, 25, and 35 min) and also to model AFB1 inactivation, cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Hep-G2), and AFB1 bioaccessibility in simulated gastrointestinal conditions.

Abstract Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin affecting animal health through the food chain and has been closely associated with several diseases such as pulmonary edema in pigs and diarrhea in poultry. FB1 is mainly metabolized in the liver. Although a few studies have shown that FB1 causes liver damage, the molecular mechanism of liver damage is unclear.

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.

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.