The presence of mycotoxins in feed and foodstuffs is an important concern for human and animal health. The Aspergillus, Fusarium and Claviceps species of fungi are ubiquitous in nature and under ideal conditions, they often can infect crops and forages in fields, during storage, shipment and processing. Mycotoxins can cause serious health problems in animals and their presence in agricultural commodities may result in serious economic losses.
Mycotoxins have been implicated in a variety of human diseases, including some forms of cancer. It has been estimated that mycotoxin-contaminated grains cost grain handlers and the livestock industry several hundred million dollars annually (CAST, 2003).
By Radka Borutova, Adisseo