Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins are a type of chemical toxin produced by fungi. They can be found in a variety of food items, including grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, spices, dairy products, and beer. Mycotoxins can produce a variety of illnesses, from skin irritation to immunosuppression. In addition to the human health effects, mycotoxins can also contaminate livestock feed and reduce feed efficiency, resulting in economic losses. The most important mycotoxins are the aflatoxins, which are potent hepatotoxins and carcinogens. For this reason, several countries have set maximum levels for mycotoxins in food and feed to avoid health risks. Detection of these toxins requires the use of sensitive analytical instruments, such as mass spectrometry. The importance of mycotoxins and their potential harm to humans and animals makes the detection and monitoring of mycotoxin levels an important task.