Scientific Information on Mycotoxins and Natural Plant Toxicants

Undesirable substances such as mycotoxins and natural toxicants can be present in plants
and derived products thereof. Depending on the nature and the concentration levels of the
compound, these might be of concern for human and/or animal health. Risk assessments on
the natural plant toxicant morphine in poppy seeds and the selected mycotoxins: alternaria
toxins, moniliformin, diacetoxyscirpenol, sterigmatocystin and phomopsins in food and feed,
ergot alkaloids in food and nivalenol in feed have not been carried out at the European level.
Therefore it is expected that the European Commission may ask EFSA to assess the risks to
human and animal health related to these substances in the near future. To carry out these
risk assessments to the highest standards and in an efficient way scientific background
information e.g. chemistry, occurrence, toxicokinetics and toxicity on these selected
mycotoxins and plant toxicant are needed. <P>
The report presents information regarding a plant toxicant, morphine, in poppy seeds, and
some mycotoxins, in particular Alternaria toxins in food and feed, Ergot alkaloids in food,
moniliformin in food and feed, nivalenol in feed, diacetoxyscirpenol in food and feed,
sterigmatocystin in food and feed and phomopsins in food and feed. After a short
introduction, fungi involved in the production of each specific mycotoxin are described.
Physico-chemical characteristics, biosynthesis and chemical analisis are then discussed for
all toxins. Occurrence data are presented, taking into account all products in which the
mycotoxins have been reported. Mitigation, intended as all actions that can be taken in the
pre- and post-harvest periods to reduce the contamination of the final products are
discussed. Pharmacokinetic aspects (absorption, distribution and excretion, metabolism and
carry-over), as well as toxicity (acute and chronic), are also discussed, based on available
information in animals and in humans. The report represents the state-of-the-art knowledge
on the toxic compounds included, and provides information useful to the scientific community
to face the risks and challenges of mycotoxins and plant natural toxicants.