C03041: Fusarium in cereals

Friday 7 July 2006

This project aims to measure the levels of certain Fusarium spp. mycotoxins in UK cereals raw materials, at key stages of the food processing chain and in the final products.

Study Duration : February 2005 to March 2008

Contractor : RHM Technology, KAS Mycotoxins

Background

This FSA project was a part of the joint Defra LINK (FQS64) funded project, intended to provide data showing concentrations of the Fusarium mycotoxins in commercial consignments of raw grain, the related concentrations during food processing and in the final product. Overall the LINK project:

investigated methods of reducing Fusarium mycotoxins in commercial processes
investigated how to ensure that limits for final retail products are not breached
established monitoring procedures and investigated the metabolites, and bound products of Fusarium toxins and the chemical and physical parameters affecting these

Research Approach

During this project maize samples were analysed for trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins toxins, while wheat and oat samples were analysed for trichothecenes and zearalenone toxins. The samples tested included raw cereals, milled cereal fractions, intermediate processed materials and finished products at the pre-packaging stage to measure the levels of Fusarium mycotoxins present.

Results and findings

As a result of the work during this project a substantial number of scientific papers were published. A few more are due to be published and details of these will be provided in FSA news and on the website when available.

Graphic version of this page

C03041: Fusarium in cereals

Background

Research Approach

Results and findings

Tell a Friend

Printer friendly

Contact us

Get alerts

Our Sites