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Topic 3: How Can I Avoid Mycotoxin Contamination During the Food/Feed Process?
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Yes, it is assumed that approximately 20% of the mycotoxins in raw materials can be produced during the storage phase. Indeed, fungi can be stressed by different factors including the oxygen availability, the temperature, the moisture content, relative humidity, etc. Here we are talking more on aspergillus and penicillium strains that could release aflatoxins B1 and ochratoxin A. The fusarium mycotoxins like deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, fumonisins, zearalenone are more considered to be produced in the field. Today, there are some strategies to control the growth of fungi during storage and limit the production of mycotoxins produced in the field. Today, there are some strategies to control the growth of fungi during storage and limit the production of mycotoxins. Proper storage is key because much of the risk can be alleviated when feed material is stored in clean and well-ventilated silos and when temperature is well monitored as well. A second option for controlling molds and concentration of mycotoxins is the use of chemicals such as mold inhibitors or preservatives like organic acids. Yes, the entire feed production process is important to control since mycotoxins can develop in different steps and they are known to be very stable and therefore not eliminated during the feed processing. There is a management system called HACCP, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point the feed producers are using to address the feed safety at the feed mill. Implementation of this approach begins by screening reliable suppliers and assessing the production process to identify different areas likely to introduce or increase the concentration of mycotoxins. Following the identification of these critical control points, a control plan must be implemented and finally, monitored. There is also some physical procedure to reduce the level of mycotoxins in the feed mill like aspiration, gravity separators, optical sorting, heating and of course cleaning all equipment on a regular basis is really critical for the fungi development. The analysis of mycotoxins in raw materials and finished feed is crucial for an efficient management process to establish a precise risk for the animal and to roll up preventive strategies. It allows the operators to manage properly the batches and decide a possible intervention in feed with the use of mycotoxin deactivators for instance. Several technologies are available today on the market for the analysis of mycotoxins. The first one is the ELISA, Enzyme-Linked Immunodeabsorbent Assay. It is based on the ability of the specific antibodies to distinguish the 3D structure of a specific mycotoxin. Then we have the immunochromatography test, also called the lateral flow test or also the STRIP test. These rapid methods are simple, easy to use, relatively fast and capable of testing mycotoxins in the field. The mycotoxin present in the sample will bind to the antimycotoxin-antibody complex and this is suitable for the analysis of raw material. The HPLC and Mass Spectrometry Detections, MS, have been also used for the confirmation mostly in finished feed and as a reference method. LCMS-MS being the gold standard methodology for mycotoxin analysis. A good mycotoxin management must be seen as an integrated approach. First, the prediction of the contamination at the field level before the harvest happens is a smart tool to anticipate all decisions to manage the batches of raw materials before storage and further processing. Then the analytical step is very crucial to quantify the risk and to have an accurate monitoring of the batches at the field level. Then the mitigation strategies must be well-chosen, including some physical treatments but also feed intervention like the use of mycotoxin deactivators. And at the end, all is made to be compliant with the different feed regulations and limit negative impacts on animal health and performance, and therefore to control the potential residues in food like meat, egg, or milk.