Mycotoxins are natural contaminants in many foodstuffs of plant origin. This concerns cereals in particular, but also fruits, nuts, almonds, apples and manufactured products from these sectors intended for human consumption. They are also present in grains, fodder and compound feed intended for animal feed and can be found in milk, eggs, meat or offal, if the animals have been exposed to contaminated feed.
Generally thermostable, they are not destroyed by the usual cooking and sterilization processes. Some mycotoxins have a very marked acute toxicity (single exposure to a high dose). However, in Europe, this type of exposure is exceptional in humans and mainly concerns animal sectors. Repeated exposure to low doses, even very low doses (chronic effects), is the most feared for humans, due to dietary habits and the persistence of these toxins.
Mycotoxin Risk Assessment
L’Agence a assessed the risks associated with the presence of mycotoxins in the food chain, both human and animal. Its objective was to carry out a review of knowledge and to deepen more particularly certain aspects, in particular the impact of mycotoxins on public health and animal health. As a result of this work, the report “Assessment of the risks associated with the presence of mycotoxins in the human and animal food chains (PDF)” published at the end of 2009 presents a state of knowledge on each family of mycotoxins. In addition to this detailed overview, recommendations in terms of research on the risks associated with some of these toxins and their transfer into animal products have been proposed.
Characterization of population exposure to mycotoxins
General population
A first EAT (EAT1), published in 2005, was carried out on the population of adults and children, in collaboration with INRA. In 2006, the Agency issued an internal request to conduct a second study (EAT2) in order to monitor changes in exposure levels over time. This study, published in 2011, confirms the good level of control of the health risks associated with the potential presence of chemical contaminants in food in France, on the basis of the regulatory thresholds and toxicological reference values available. However, this study also points to exceedances of the toxicological reference value for certain population groups in the case of deoxynivalenol and its acetylated derivatives.
Since these risks are often associated with situations of high consumption of a given food or food group, ANSES reminds the importance of a diversified and balanced diet by varying the foods and the quantity consumed.
Children under 3 years old
A TDS focusing on infant nutrition (TDi) also made it possible to assess the exposure of children under 3 years of age. The results of the EATi were published in 2016. This study highlighted situations deemed to be of concern for deoxynivalenol and its acetylated derivatives as well as for T2-HT2 toxins. For these toxins, efforts to reduce exposure must be continued. Moreover, the risk might not be ruled out for ochratoxin A and aflatoxins for which analytical efforts must be made in order to better characterize the exposure of the child population.
