January 25, 2007

Grain industry to play key role in aflatoxin containment
 

The grain industry continues to encounter mycotoxins in Texas feed-grade corn, making grain elevators among the first line of defence, said Dr Tim Herrman, director of the Office of the State Chemist at Texas A&M University.

At a recent Texas High Plains Grain Elevator Workshop in Amarillo, Herrman announced completing the census of the commercial grain handling facilities.

The census found that 92 percent of the grain elevators holding a commercial feed licence were testing for aflatoxin or fumonisin showing good initial compliance with the rules and regulations.

However, there was still a need among those elevators doing the testing, to further improve labelling of grain containing mycotoxins and to document that the grain was channelled to the appropriate markets, said Herrman.

He pointed out good sampling techniques, sample preparation and testing as some of the best management practices to be followed while handling grains.

Aflatoxin and fumonisin, two of the most well known mycotoxins, are known animal carcinogens and are largely found as contaminants of corn.

Corn exceeding the 20 parts per billion aflatoxin and 5 parts per million fumonisin action levels is legally categorised as a livestock feed ingredient, which is regulated by the Texas Commercial Feed Control Act, he said. As such, the corn must be labelled and channelled to the appropriate market.