A new study characterized mycotoxin-related RASFF food safety notifications by mycotoxin type, product category, country of origin, risk level, and notification type. The researchers also contextualized notification trends dating back to 2012.
The Spanish Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Murcia (Fecoam) points to recent RASFF food safety notifications about U.S. nuts demonstrating dangerous levels of aflatoxin contamination—with almonds exceeding EU maximum levels by three times in one instance—and calls for stricter import controls.
The 48th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48) has adopted and revised various standards, including new maximum levels for lead in cinnamon and dried herbs, the first international standard for fresh dates, updated food additives provisions, and other standards.
A new study led by the University of South Australia offers a promising real-time mycotoxin detection method for the food industry that is based in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and overcomes some of the limitations of traditional detection methods.
Adding to its existing certification for corn, ImagoAI’s Galaxy Mycotoxins Test has received the AOAC Performance Tested Methods (PTM) certification for aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, and zearalenone in Wheat, Dried Distillers Grains With Solubles (DDGS), and Corn Gluten Meal (CGM).
Warming temperatures associated with climate change are increasing the risk of human exposure to fungi-produced mycotoxins from food, warned the European Environment Agency in a new briefing. Mycotoxins pose significant health risks to humans and are present in foods like grains and cereals.
Romer Labs has received Performance Tested MethodsSM (PTM) certification from the AOAC Research Institute for its quantitative AgraStrip® Pro Total Aflatoxin WATEX® test kit for corn and peanut paste.
ImagoAI’s Galaxy for Mycotoxins Test, which the company calls the “world’s fastest” with results provided in less than 30 seconds, has achieved Performance Tested MethodsSM (PTM) certification from AOAC International.
Aflatoxin-contaminated nuts and seeds dominated mycotoxin notifications made through the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) between 2011 and 2021, according to a recent study.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA’s ARS) is looking into the antimicrobial properties of mushroom extracts and how they can enhance food safety against aflatoxin-producing fungus and bacteria.
