The development of technologies for the control of mycotoxins in human food and livestock feed

Partners:
RIKILT-DLO, The Netherlands
TNO Centre for Applied Statistics (TNO-TPD), The Netherlands
University of Hamburg, Germany.

Problem:
This project contributed towards the development of a strategy to control the occurrence of mycotoxins in foods.  Mycotoxins are highly poisonous compounds which are produced by certain moulds when they grow on a wide variety of foods and feeds.  The ingestion of mycotoxins by humans or livestock may cause disease, decreased productivity and death, and their occurrence in foods and feeds is strictly controlled by both international and national legislation.  About 250,000 hepatocellular carcinoma-related deaths occur annually in parts of sub-Saharan Africa due to aflatoxin ingestion. Clearly, technologies are required for the cost-effective detection and measurement of mycotoxins, so that procedures for the prevention and removal (cure) of these compounds from foods and feeds can be developed and implemented.

Achievements:
Sampling method:
Since the distribution of some mycotoxins (especially aflatoxins) in granular foods and feeds (e.g. edible nuts, oilseeds and cereals) is highly localised, sampling plans are required that accommodate this distribution pattern, and which enable the collection of samples which accurately represent the batch which is being evaluated.  The project produced simple but effective sampling plans for the accurate sampling of large shipments (e.g. 15 – 50,000 tonnes) of livestock feeds on arrival at European ports, prior to aflatoxin analysis.

Mycotoxin analysis:
Once a representative sample has been collected, technologies are then required which allow the presence of toxins to be detected and accurately measured.  These technologies, involving the detection and measurement of mycotoxins, can be used as a means of segregating uncontaminated and contaminated commodities, and as a means of monitoring the development of effective preventative and curative measures.  The project developed the following analytical tools:

• simple yeast bioassay for the detection of mycotoxins, and other toxins, in foods and feeds.  The technology exploited the visual impact of mycotoxins, via a colorimetric end-point, on a yeast contained within a micro-titre plate.  The bioassay was applied to a variety of mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1; and thirteen mycotoxins);
   
• biosensor, which exploited an anti-aflatoxin B1 antibody, for the measurement of mycotoxins in selected foods and feeds;
  
  
• simple and rapid method for the accurate measurement of selected mycotoxins using mini-column technology using a specially designed fluorimeter.