| COMPLETE MYCOTOXIN SERVICE | |
| If you are involved in the Food or Feed Industries you need to know that mycotoxins are amongst the most toxic compounds that can occur in foods. In terms of implications for human health and the economy, they are by far the most important contaminants of the food chain. | |
| Mycotoxins are produced by fungi infecting agricultural crops during growth, drying and storage and have become the focus of regulatory concerns throughout the world. |  |
| As such you need to formulate a strategy that establishes the risks for your products and incorporates an appropriate testing regime. PREMIER ANALYTICAL'S COMPLETE MYCOTOXIN SERVICE can do this for you. | |
| Premier Analytical Services is one of the leading food testing centres in Europe, providing routine and research analytical services in the areas of food characterisation, authenticity and safety. | |
| A dedicated team, utilising dedicated facilities, provides our Mycotoxin Service. Our unique experience and expertise has resulted in a scope of UKAS accreditation that covers 28 mycotoxins validated in an extensive range of sample matrices. This means you only need to consult one service provider and guarantees you accuracy and precision, thereby providing you with confidence in results you can trust. A necessity in an increasingly regulated area. |  |
| THE COMPLETE RANGE OF MYCOTOXINS ANALYSED BY PREMIER ANALYTICAL SERVICES |
| MYCOTOXINS PRODUCED BY FUSARIUM FUNGI | |||||
| Mycotoxin | UKAS Accredited | Toxicity | Producing Fungi | Occurrence | Suggested Foods to be Screened |
| Trichothecenes Deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) (DON) Nivalenol (NIV) 3 -Acetyldeoxynivalenol 15-Acetyldeoxynivalneol Fusarenone X Neosolaniol Diacetoxyscirpenol T2 triol T2 toxin HT2 toxin |
YES | Acute effects include vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhaging. At lower levels immunosuppressive. Not carcinogenic |
Fusarium species
Including: |
Cereal grains Maize, wheat, barley, oats, rice Cereal products |
Maize based breakfast cereals Maize based snacks Wheat based products, bread, flour, and biscuits. |
| Fumonisins B1, B2, B3 (= major fumonisins found in nature and FB1 is the most toxic) |
YES | Epidemiological link to human oesophageal cancer Carcinogenic |
Fusarium verticilliodes (moniliforme) F. proliferatum |
Maize and maize products, not starch and syrups Potential field or storage problem |
Maize based breakfast cereals |
| Zearalenone (F2, ZEA, ZON) | YES | Oestrogenic compound Endocrine disrupter |
Fusarium species (F.graminearum)
Endemic field contaminants of cereals throughout the world Other zearalenone type compounds are produced by Fusarium species. |
Cereal grains Maize, wheat Cereal products |
Maize based breakfast cereals Maize based snacks Corn oil |
| Moniliformin | YES | Acutely toxic | Fusarium verticilliodes (moniliforme) F. proliferatum Maize pathogens |
Maize and maize products | Maize breakfast cereals Maize based snacks |
| Fusarins | YES | Mutagenic Immunosuppressive |
Multiple Fusarium species, including F.crookwellense F graminearum F verticlliodes F. sambucinum F culmorum F avenaceum |
Cereals particularly maize
Highly unstable compounds |
Raw cereals, especially maize |
| MYCOTOXINS FORMED BY ASPERGILLUS AND PENICILLIUM FUNGI | |||||
| Mycotoxin | UKAS Accredited | Toxicity | Producing Fungi | Occurrence | Suggested Foods to be Screened |
| Ochratoxin A (OTA, OA) | YES | YYE Potent kidney (nephro) toxin Carcinogenic Possibly genotoxic Teratogenic Immunosuppressive |
Penicillium verrucosum in temperate areas/cereals
Aspergillus ochraeus, A. niger in more tropical areas |
Cereal grains and processed products Production can occur during storage Animal tissues (following ingestion of contaminated feed) |
Bread (brown/white) Biscuits Wheat based snacks Wheat based breakfast cereals Dried fruits and products Wine Spices Cocoa/chocolate |
| Citrinin | Yes | Kidney and liver toxic
Foetotoxic |
Synthesised by various Penicillium and Aspergillus species
P.verrucosum in temperate areas |
Cereals
Rice, peanuts Can co-occur with OTA |
Cereals with high OTA |
| MYCOTOXINS FORMED BY ASPERGILLUS FUNGI | |||||
| Mycotoxin | UKAS Accredited | Toxicity | Producing Fungi | Occurrence | Suggested Foods to be Screened |
| Aflatoxin B1, B2, & Aflatoxin G1, G2 Aflatoxin M1 |
YES | Liver carcinogen Hepato (liver) toxin Acutely toxic Mutagenic, teratogenic |
Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus |
More prevalent in tropical climates. Nuts Aflatoxin M1 in milk and milk products following ingestion of contaminated feed. |
Nuts (peanut, cashew, pistachio, pecan, walnut, Brazil) Spices Maize and maize products Rice |
| Sterigmatocystin (SMC) | YES | Structurally similar to aflatoxins, carcinogenic, not as potent as aflatoxin B1 | Aspergillus versicolor | Maize Reported in cheese |
Not top priority |
| Cyclopiazonic Acid (CPA) | YES | Gastrointestinal disturbances and neurological problems Co-occurs with aflatoxin and possible synergistic effects |
Aspergillus flavus | ||
| MYCOTOXINS FORMED BY PENICILLIUM FUNGI | |||||
| Mycotoxin | UKAS Accredited | Toxicity | Producing Fungi | Occurrence | Suggested Foods to be Screened |
| Patulin | YES | Initial reports of carcinogenicity, not confirmed | Penicillium expansum | Apples and pears | Fresh pressed apple juices |
| MYCOTOXINS FORMED BY ALTERNARIA FUNGI | |||||
| Mycotoxin | UKAS Accredited | Toxicity | Producing Fungi | Occurrence | Suggested Foods to be Screened |
| Alternaria toxins Alternariol (AOH) Alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) |
YES | Not mutagenic Cytotoxic |
Alternaria species A.alternata |
Fruit e.g. apples Olives Cereals |
Apple juice |
| MYCOTOXINS FORMED BY CLAVICEPS FUNGI | |||||
| Mycotoxin | UKAS Accredited | Toxicity | Producing Fungi | Occurrence | Suggested Foods to be Screened |
| Ergot Alkaloids Ergotamine Ergonovine Ergocryptine |
YES | Affects on the nervous system Hallucinogenic Necrotic (gangrenous) effects in humans Burning sensations (St Anthony's Fie) |
Claviceps species The fruiting body (sclerotia or ergot) contains the toxic alkaloids |
Cereals and grasses |
Primarily rye, triticale and products Other cereal products |
| ALL PART OF THE SERVICE | |
| ADVICE WITH RATIONALE | |
| You will be able to pursue the most appropriate course of action after you consult our mycotoxin experts for risk assessment, based on your raw materials and processes. They will provide you with recommendations regarding sampling, sampling frequency and testing regimes. | |
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SAMPLE PREPARATION |
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| If necessary our large-scale sample handling facilities will ensure the statistically representative sample preparation required for regulatory compliance. | |
| SAMPLE EXTRACTION & CLEAN-UP | |
| We are expert at achieving a full quantitative extraction. Extraction and clean-up procedures have been validated with naturally contaminated materials. Both are critical contributors to the accuracy of the final result. To provide confidence in every result spiked samples are used to demonstrate that strict method performance criteria are met by every test. | |
| END DETERMINATION TECHNIQUES |  |
| Based on the extremely toxic nature of mycotoxins the regulatory and industry guideline limits have been established at very low levels, typically low parts per billion. The appropriate end determination technique for each mycotoxin is therefore selected using our experience and expertise in order to provide the sensitivity required to meet regulatory and guideline limits. | |
| INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS | |
| Premier Analytical's Complete Mycotoxin Service provides not just results but interpretation as well, thus enabling you to take appropriate actions. | |
| QUALITY ASSURANCE | |
| Exemplary performance in collaborative (EU and UK) and proficiency testing schemes e.g. FAPAS, demonstrates the accuracy of our results. | |
| MYCOTOXIN REGULATORY AND CONSULTATIVE LIMITS | |
| Read the Mycotoxin Regulatory And Consultative Limits - November 2007 | |
