November 17, 2014
EFSA official addresses dealing with mycotoxins in animals
During the eighth World Mycotoxin Forum on November 10-12, Dr Jaume Galobart, from the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) Feed Unit, highlighted feed additives' importance in controlling mycotoxins, according to a BIOMIN report.
Dr Galobart also addressed mycotoxin levels in feedstock which are initially recorded within an acceptable range but later transformed during animals' digestion. This leads to the production of metabolites that can exceed regulatory limits.
One example is aflatoxin M1, which is found in lactating cows fed with permitted levels of aflatoxin B1. M1 has a potential carryover level in milk within a range of 1-6%.
In dealing with mycotoxins, Dr. Dieter Moll, the research team leader for Molecular Biology at BIOMIN, drew enzymatic biotransformation into consideration. The process involves mycotoxins being broken down by enzymes into less harmful substances.
One product that is capable of facilitating such a reaction is FUMzyme®, as cited by Dr Moll. FUMzyme® is the first purified enzyme authorised by the EU and effective in degrading fumonisins, a mycotoxin derived from Fusarium, into compounds of much lower toxicity in the gastrointestinal tract of livestock.
Galobart also added that EFSA recommendations concerning mycotoxin levels do not consider co-contamination, which is the presence of multiple mycotoxins, adverse to human and animal health.
"The type of mycotoxin interaction depends on the dose", said Dr Isabelle Oswald from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA). Dr Oswald explains that at low dosage levels, a synergistic effect is seen, in "the case of (mycotoxin) deoxynivalenol (DON) and acetyl DON."
Dr J. David Miller, a professor from Carleton University, Canada, noted that it is normal for co-exposure to occur. Based on BIOMIN's Global Mycotoxin Survey, 48% of feedstock samples extracted worldwide are revealed to have contained more than one mycotoxin.
This year's forum saw an attendance of about 400 individuals including agri-food professionals, regulatory authorities, consultants and academics from over 30 countries.
BIOMIN and Romer Labs®, both part of Erber Group, were gold sponsor of the event.
