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The goal of this research is to find the optimum conditions of extrusion processing which will destroy and reduce the amounts of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins in contaminated corn and wheat under simulated industrial conditions to render the processed grain-based foods free of these toxins.
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This project will contribute to the safety of the food supply by improving the safety of cereal-based foods.</p>
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Toxin producing Fusarium molds pose major food safety hazards by invading corn and wheat in the field and producing their toxins in the grain. These toxins are called mycotoxins, and include deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin), zearalenone and fumonisins. </p>
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Fumonisins have been determined to be carcinogenic in toxicity studies by FDA. These mycotoxins have been found to commonly occur in corn and wheat and have also been found in finished grain-basedprocessed food products.</p>
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Extrusion processing of cereal grains is used extensively in the food industry to produce manybreakfast and snack foods. During extrusion processing ground up grain is mixed with water to fonn a dough-like material that is forced through a tube of decreasing size by a rotating screw. At the end of the tube or barrel of the extruder is a small opening known as a die through which the hot grain dough, under great pressure, exits the extruder with a sudden release of steam and pressure which causes the cooked dough to puff and dry. </p>
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During extrusion processing, very high temperatures and pressures along with shearing forces are generated.