FDA Monitoring Human Foods for Two Additional Mycotoxins
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now monitoring human foods for the presence of two additional mycotoxins, specifically, T-2/HT-2 toxins and zearalenone, under the Mycotoxins in Domestic and Imported Human Foods Compliance Program.
Additionally, FDA has updated the compliance program to reflect the transition by FDA regulatory laboratories to a multi-mycotoxin method for analysis in human foods, which will allow the agency to obtain results for multiple mycotoxins in a single sample analysis.
T-2/HT-2 toxins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium molds, and typically affect grains like wheat, rye, oat, and barley. If T-2 and HT-2 are found in foods, they may cause human health issues such as high fever, gastrointestinal problems, and hemorrhage. Zearalenone is also a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium molds, and it affects crops like corn, oats, wheat, sorghum, and rice. Zearalenone in food may cause reproductive harm to humans.
Contamination by T-2/HT-2 toxins and zearalenone generally occurs when grains are not stored and/or dried properly.
The data gained by the mycotoxins compliance program will support enforcement actions, risk assessments, and international activities, as well as provide information on mycotoxin incidence, the extent of contamination, and co-occurrence. Updates to the compliance program do not affect FDA’s surveillance of mycotoxins in animal food.
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