Mycotoxin Testing
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxic secondary metabolites produced by moulds such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. These toxins pose serious food safety and public health challenges due to their stability under food processing conditions and wide distribution across food and feed commodities. Commonly found in cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, milk, coffee, and animal feeds, mycotoxins are associated with carcinogenic, nephrotoxic, immunosuppressive, and estrogenic effects. Regular monitoring and advanced analytical testing are essential to mitigate the risks, meet regulatory requirements, and ensure safe global trade.
Key Mycotoxins in Food and Feed
- Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, M1): Common in maize, peanuts, milk, and spices.
- Ochratoxin A (OTA): Found in cereals, coffee, dried fruits, and wine.
- Fumonisins (B1, B2, B3): Occur mainly in maize and maize-based products.
- Zearalenone (ZEN): Found in maize, barley, and wheat.
- Trichothecenes (T-2, HT-2, DON): Common in grains like wheat and oats.
- Patulin: Detected in apples, apple juice, and other rotting fruits.
Public Health Concerns
- Carcinogenic Risk: Aflatoxins are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by IARC and are linked to liver cancer.
- Nephrotoxicity and Immunosuppression: Ochratoxin A and trichothecenes can damage kidneys and weaken the immune system.
- Reproductive and Developmental Effects: Zearalenone mimics oestrogen and impacts reproductive health, especially in children and livestock.
- Acute Toxicity in Infants: Aflatoxin M1 in milk poses a direct threat to infants, potentially affecting growth and brain development.
Industry Concerns
- Trade Rejections and Economic Losses: Many food shipments are rejected due to mycotoxin contamination, especially in the EU and US.
- Feed Safety and Livestock Productivity: Mycotoxin-contaminated feed reduces animal fertility, milk production, and growth rates.
- Reputation Damage and Product Recalls: Failing to test can result in recalls, lawsuits, and loss of consumer trust.
- Need for Supply Chain Transparency: Buyers increasingly demand validated lab reports and traceability.
Importance of Mycotoxin Testing
|
Objective |
Reason |
|
Public Health Protection |
Prevents cancer, immunosuppression, and stunted growth linked to chronic exposure |
|
Regulatory Compliance |
Ensures adherence to national and international MRLs (e.g., FSSAI, Codex, EU, FDA) |
|
Export Readiness |
Prevents shipment rejections and meets import standards of high-regulation markets |
|
Quality Control in Production |
Validates raw material integrity, especially cereals, spices, nuts, and milk products |
|
Feed Chain Safety |
Guarantees animal feed does not affect productivity or human food derived from animals |
Global Regulatory Limits (Examples)
FSSAI
|
Mycotoxin |
Food Product |
Limit (μg/kg) |
|
Aflatoxins (AFs) |
Cereals, pulses, nuts (for further processing) |
15 |
|
Ready-to-eat foods, dried figs |
10 |
|
|
Spices |
30 |
|
|
Oilseeds (for further processing) |
15 |
|
|
Betelnut/Arecanut |
15 |
|
|
Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) |
Milk |
0.5 |
|
Ochratoxin A (OTA) |
Wheat, barley, rye |
20 |
|
Patulin (PAT) |
Apple juice and apple-based beverages |
50 |
|
Deoxynivalenol (DON) |
Wheat |
1000 |
Advanced Testing Methods for Mycotoxins
- LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry): Gold standard for multi-mycotoxin detection with high sensitivity and specificity.
- HPLC-FLD (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography – Fluorescence Detection): Widely used for aflatoxins and OTA.
- ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): Cost-effective, fast screening tool for aflatoxins, OTA, DON, and ZEN.
- TLC (Thin-Layer Chromatography): Basic technique still in use for qualitative detection in resource-limited settings.
- UPLC-HRMS: High-resolution mass spectrometry for research and confirmatory testing.
Mycotoxin Testing Parameters and Analysis
Eurofins laboratories are equipped to analyse a comprehensive range of mycotoxins using internationally validated methods:
Tested Mycotoxins:
- Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, M1)
- Ochratoxin A
- Fumonisins (B1, B2, B3)
- Zearalenone
- Trichothecenes (T-2, HT-2, DON)
- Patulin
Eurofins Testing Services for Mycotoxins
- Global Laboratory Network: Accredited facilities in 50+ countries offering harmonised testing protocols.
- Method Validation: ISO/IEC 17025-accredited methods (LC-MS/MS, HPLC-FLD, ELISA) with traceable results.
- Fast Turnaround and High Throughput: Capacity to manage large volumes for processors, exporters, and retailers.
- Expert Advisory and Regulatory Support: Consultation for MRL updates, product recalls, and certification processes.
- Integrated Programmes: Mycotoxin risk mapping, traceability audits, and pre-shipment testing for full supply chain control.
- Digital Access: Client portals for real-time report access, trend analysis, and document retrieval.
Final Thoughts
Mycotoxins continue to be a leading food safety challenge worldwide, affecting everything from cereal grains to infant food. Prevention through good agricultural and storage practices is vital, but testing remains the only way to guarantee compliance. Eurofins’ global infrastructure, validated methods, and regulatory expertise make it the trusted partner for ensuring mycotoxin-free, compliant, and safe products in food and feed supply chains.
