Mycotoxin Contamination of the Food Supply Chain - Implications for One Health Programme

Abstract

Mycotoxins are a group of naturally occurring toxic chemical substances, produced by different fungal species, which can cause illness or even death due to their toxigenic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects. Though more than 400 mycotoxins are known to have toxic effects on human when ingested along with contaminated food, mycotoxins like aflatoxins, ochratoxins, zeralenone, trichothecenes and fumonisins are the major mycotoxins influencing the public health and agriculture. Due to the global nature of the food supply and advances in analytical capabilities, mycotoxin contamination will continue to be an area of concern for regulatory agencies, the food industry, and consumers.