Significance of Mycotoxins to Food Safety and Human Health

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Abstract
Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by molds, which cause disease in animals or man. Acute diseases caused by mycotoxins are called mycotoxicoses. History has recorded several human disease outbreaks and numerous animal poisonings thought to be mycotoxicoses. The outbreak of Turkey X disease in England in 1960 culminated in the discovery of aflatoxins and the realization that low levels of mold metabolites in foods and feed could cause disease in man and animals. This gave great impetus to the study of mycotoxins. Mycotoxin-producing molds are quite ubiquitous and frequently contaminate food and agricultural commodities. Fortunately, the mere presence of a toxic mold in food does not automatically mean the presence of mycotoxins. Mycotoxins currently receiving the most attention as potential hazards to human and animal health include aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, patulin, penicillic acid, citrinin, zearalenone and the toxic trichothecenes. These compounds all cause some degree of acute ...