Food and feed pollution of mycotoxins remains a significant threat to food safety, public health and economic relevance. In different foodstuffs, mycotoxins exist, ranging from raw agricultural commodities to refined foods with varying impacts on food production. Aflatoxins, fumonisins and patulin are the main group of mycotoxins that contaminate food and feed. Several experiments have been performed to reveal the body’s mycotoxin metabolism. The health effects of mycotoxins on sufficient dose intake are complex. These include sub-acute mycotoxicosis, immune suppression, carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, animal and human morbidity and mortality, as well as nutrient assimilation interactions. Food mycotoxicity has tremendous effects on foreign trade, resulting in massive losses. There are regulations aimed at the prevention and control of mycotoxins, although not in all countries, that only function on industrially processed foods and those intended for export but not locally processed. There have been a variety of mycotoxin prevention methods suggested, but the awareness of implementation is very poor. A feasible alternative is the use of the media to build awareness.
Author (s) Details
Dr. M. U. Ukwuru
Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, P.M.B. 1037, Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria.
C. G. Ohaegbu
Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
Mr. A. Muritala
Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, P.M.B. 1037, Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria.
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