Significance of regulation limits in mycotoxin contamination in Asia and risk management programs at the national level

N. Anukul
K. Vangnai
W. Mahakarnchandkul

Abstract

Mycotoxins are the secondary metabolites produced from toxigenic fungi recognized as major food and feed contaminants. They are a source of grave concern in food contamination, resulting in mycotoxicosis in humans and animals. To date, many regulations on the allowable levels of each mycotoxin have been established in several countries. Consumers and food producers expect that toxin contamination in food and feed, based on government regulations and guideline levels, should have no adverse consequences on human and animal health. This review is an extension of the discussions during the international seminar entitled Risk Assessment and Risk Management of Mycotoxins/or Food Safety in Asia, which was jointly organized by Kasetsart University (Thailand) and the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region (Taiwan) and held in Chonburi, Thailand, in September 2011. In this review, we discuss the recent findings on mycotoxins in food and feed, with emphasis on aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxins, and zearalenone, as well as the national management programs that will supply a wider knowledge base for establishing appropriate control measures for mycotoxins in Asian countries. However, we believe that continuing support from national governments and regional communities is essential to encourage and fund activities that contribute to a reliable exposure risk assessment and risk management of mycotoxins in the region, and also to improve our understanding and practices in order to protect consumers from the health threat posed by mycotoxin contamination. Copyright © 2013, Food and Drug Administration, Taiwan. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.

ScienceDirect Link

10.1016/j.jfda.2013.07.009

Recommended Citation

Anukul, N.; Vangnai, K.; and Mahakarnchandkul, W. (2013) "Significance of regulation limits in mycotoxin contamination in Asia and risk management programs at the national level," Journal of Food and Drug Analysis: Vol. 21 : Iss. 3 , Article 1.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfda.2013.07.009