May 30, 2013

BIOMIN releases results of Mycotoxin Survey Programme 2012

press release

BIOMIN has released its most complete and comprehensive mycotoxin report on the market to date, with 4,023 samples collected worldwide and 14,468 analyses conducted in 2012 alone.

From January 2012 until December 2012, a total of 4,023 samples collected worldwide were analysed. In total, 14,468 analyses were carried out for the most important mycotoxins in terms of agriculture and animal production - aflatoxins (Afla), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FUM) and ochratoxin A (OTA). In addition to these mycotoxins, European samples were analysed for T-2 toxin (T-2). Due to lab regulations in other parts of the world, the presence of this mycotoxin was not tested for in other regions.

Samples tested were diverse, ranging from cereals such as corn, wheat, barley and rice to processing by-products, namely soymeal, corn gluten meal, dried distillers grains with soluble (DDGS) and other fodder such as straw, silage and finished feed.

In the more than 4,000 samples analysed, Afla were present in 25%, ZEN in 46%, DON in 64%, FUM in 56% and OTA in 31%. Average contamination levels of all samples were 34 part per billion (ppb) for Afla, 251 ppb for ZEN, 1088 ppb for DON, 1350 ppb for FUM and 5 ppb for OTA.

Compared with data from the previous year, an increase in the occurrence of fusariotoxins (DON, FUM and ZEN) was observed together with a slight decrease in Afla.

Since 2005, BIOMIN has been conducting extensive studies documenting the occurrence of mycotoxins worldwide. The BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey Programme 2012 details the distribution of mycotoxins according to their region of origin and commodity type.

The 2012 drought in the US and the recent aflatoxin scandal in Europe has raised awareness once again of the mycotoxin problem facing the industry.