Mycotoxin Contamination of Foodstuffs

Toxic metabolites (mycotoxins) of spoilage fungi growing on food commodities have caused acute and chronic toxicity syndromes in animals and man. "Alimentary toxic aleukia," a mycotoxicosis of man, results from ingestion of metabolites of fungi growing on cereal grains. Fungal spoilage of rice has resulted in luteoskyrin and a chlorine-containing peptide, toxic metabolites of Penicillium islandicum. The syndrome "facial eczema" of ruminants is caused by sporidesmin, a hepatotoxic metabolite of Pithomyces chartarum, which grows on rye grass pastures. The aflatoxins, metabolites of A. flavus, are potent hepalotoxins in many animal species and also hepatocarcinogens in the rat, duck, and rainbow trout. Mycotoxin contamination can present real or potential health hazards, and therefore impair maximum utilization of available protein sources and other foodstuffs.