International Life Sciences Institute Europe (ILSI Europe) has introduced a practical risk prioritization framework designed to identify which mycotoxins present the greatest risk to consumers, and where mitigation efforts should be concentrated—offering a new tool for proactive, data-driven food safety management. The framework was published in World Mycotoxin Journal.

Mycotoxins—compounds produced by certain fungi that cause serious health harms—pose a significant and evolving threat to global food safety. These toxins can contaminate crops at multiple stages of the food production chain, and can even affect animal-derived products through contaminated feed. As global climate conditions increasingly favor fungal growth, the risk of mycotoxin contamination is expected to rise, prompting urgent calls for more targeted mitigation strategies.

Responding to these threats, ILSI Europe’s Food Contaminants Task Force developed a framework that integrates hazard assessment, exposure evaluation, and, for the first time, an analysis of existing mitigation strategies.

A proof-of-concept study applied the framework to wheat-based foods such as bread and pasta. Results showed that ochratoxin A in bread ranked highest in terms of mitigation priority, followed by deoxynivalenol. The framework’s flexible design allows it to be adapted to other food commodities, contaminants, and climate conditions that influence fungal growth and mycotoxin prevalence.

For food industry stakeholders, the framework offers a tool to optimize resource allocation, enhance supply chain control, and support regulatory compliance. Regulators can benefit from its science-based method for refining surveillance priorities and safety standards. Academic researchers can gain a structured platform to address toxicological data gaps and develop targeted mitigation strategies.

The expert group behind the framework emphasized its pragmatic and adaptable nature. They noted that the tool combines scientific rigor with operational practicality, enabling stakeholders across the supply chain to identify priority mycotoxins and product categories for intervention. The approach is designed to support consumer health protection while also improving efficiency across the agri-food system.

The framework’s adaptability was highlighted as a key strength, particularly in the context of climate change and shifting contamination patterns. By integrating severity of hazards, exposure levels, and mitigation options into a unified methodology, the tool supports evidence-based decision-making across diverse food categories and population groups.

Experts who contributed to the framework’s development include, among others: Michele Suman, Ph.D., Food Safety and Authenticity Research Manager at Barilla, Adjunct Professor at Catholic University of the Sacred Heart; Maxence Oboeuf, Pharm.D., Food Safety and Toxicology Senior Scientist at Danone; and Elisabeth Varga, Dr. nat. techn., Assistant Professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna.