The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated the program of official controls on mycotoxins in foods produced and imported into the USA. (1)
1) Mycotoxins, introduction
Mycotoxins, as seen, they are:
- toxic substances naturally present in plants, produced by the secondary metabolism of some fungi or molds (i.e. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Stachybotrys, Cephalosporium, etc.);
-dangerous for human health, even in case of chronic exposure to small doses. In fact, they damage cellular structures, promote the formation of tumors and weaken the immune system;
-able to proliferate in environmental conditions favorable to them (i.e. humidity, darkness). The application of good practices in the phases of primary agricultural production and storage therefore plays a crucial role (2,3).
2) FDA, USA. Controls on mycotoxins in food, feed and pet food
The controls on mycotoxins in foods focus on aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, patulin, ochratoxin A, T-2 and HT-2 toxins and zearalenone.
The FDA's centre for veterinary medicine in turn controls mycotoxins (aflatoxins, DON, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, zearalenone) in feed and pet food. (4)
The limit values of the mycotoxins permitted in the USA, however, as already noted, (2) are in some cases much higher than those established in the EU.
3) FDA, update of the food control program
The update of the 'Mycotoxins in Domestic and Imported Human Foods. Compliance programme' includes:
-the adoption, by the official reference laboratories for FDA, of a multi-mycotoxin analysis method (5)
-the inclusion of analyses on T-2/HT-2 toxins and zearalenone, which until now have not been included in the monitoring.
The data obtained from the update of the official controls programme will support the review of the related programmes, risk assessment and international activities.
4) T-2/HT-2 and zearalenone, special suspects
The new controls Officials established in the USA are focused on mycotoxins produced by Fusarium molds:
-mycotoxins T-2, HT-2 are found in contaminated cereals, such as wheat, rye, oats and barley. Contamination occurs when cereals are not stored and/or dried properly. Particular attention should be paid to pasta, as noted in analyses conducted in Germany by Ökotest in 2020; (6)
-zearalenone (ZEA) is in turn a mycotoxin also produced by Fusarium moulds in conditions favourable to their development. It is in turn detected in cereals such as corn, oats, wheat, sorghum and rice. Among others, mycotoxins modified from it are reported as emerging risks. (7)
5) Provisional conclusions
Contamination of foods with mycotoxins still represents the third most recurring category of danger in the European Union, as highlighted in the recent 2023 report by ACN (Alert and Cooperation Network). (8)
21% of the notifications of food safety risks related to the presence of mycotoxins registered in the EU in 2023, equal to 85 cases out of 401, concerned food products arriving from the USA. In particular, on dried fruit with shell.
Dario Dongo
Footnotes
(1) FDA. Mycotoxins in Domestic and Imported Human Foods. Compliance program https://t.ly/ON6Ke
(2) Marta Strinati. Mycotoxins, the invisible evil. The ABC. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 24.5.19
(3) Marta Strinati. Mycotoxins, interview with Carlo Brera, ISS expert. The ABC. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 31.5.19
(4) FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. Animal foods, chemical contaminants https://t.ly/NFtFB
(5) FDA Foods Program Compendium of Analytical Laboratory Methods:
Chemical Analytical Manual (CAM). November 14, 2023 https://t.ly/uEBZ-
(6) Marta Strinati, Dario Dongo. Wholemeal spaghetti, mycotoxins out of control. Ökotest's analyzes. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 17.9.20
(7) Giulia Pietrollini. Emerging risks, modified mycotoxins. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 24.11.22
(8) Marta Strinati. Contaminated Food and Food Fraud in the EU. ACN Report 2023. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 7.10.24
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
