• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2020

This study was conducted to survey levels of heavy metals, benzopyrene and mycotoxins in teas purchased from online markets, supermarkets, and traditional markets in Gwangju, Korea. We examined the arsenic, cadmium and lead content in heavy metals. We also tested for benzo(a)pyrene, which is classified as a carcinogen. In addition, we tested for the mycotoxins aflatoxin (AFB₁, AFB₂, AFG₁, AFG₂), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisin (FUB₁, FUB₂), and zearalenone (ZON). According to our results, heavy metals were detected within the allowable range (below 5.0 mg/kg for lead) and all samples met with the standards for tea as presented in the Korean Food Code. The Benzo(a)pyrene showed a detection rate of 12.8% in 16 of 125 samples and mycotoxins showed 23.2% in 29 of 125 samples. However, safe levels regarding benzo(a)pyrene and mycotoxin in tea were not ascertainable since the standards are not set in the Korean Food Code.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3499-3503
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• 2016

Our recent studies conducted in South America have shown that mycotoxin contamination of red chili peppers (RCPs) may be associated with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer (GBC). Whether this relationship exists in India, a country with a high incidence of GBC and high consumption of RCPs, is unclear. We therefore measured concentrations of aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in RCPs from areas of low, medium, and high incidence of GBC in India, and compared these concentrations with GBC incidence in each area. Twenty-one RCP samples were collected from nine cities (eight from a low-incidence area, five from a medium-incidence area, and eight from a high-incidence area). Concentrations of AFs and OTA were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. No significant differences in mean concentrations of AFs and OTA were found in the three areas. AFB1 levels in the low-incidence area ($10.81{\mu}g/kg$) and high-incidence area ($12.00{\mu}g/kg$) were more than 2.2 and 2.4 times higher compared with the maximum permitted level of AFB1 in spices ($5.0{\mu}g/kg$) set by the Commission of the European Communities, or that ($4.4{\mu}g/kg$) obtained in our previous study in Chile. Our results show that the mean concentrations of mycotoxins in RCPs are similar among the three areas in India with different incidences of GBC. Further studies with human subjects are needed to evaluate any association between AFB1 and GBC.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.399-403
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• 2018

In this study, safety investigations on harmful microorganisms and mycotoxins were conducted on honeybee drone pupae as a new food material, which is rich in nutrients and capable of being mass produced in apiaries. The honeybee drone pupae produced in apiaries were collected from three different regions in Korea and frozen immediately. Subsequently, the samples were subjected to freeze-drying. According to the Korean Food Code test method, coliforms, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus, and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli were not detected in 280 honeybee drone pupas. In addition, mycotoxins, aflatoxin $B_1$, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone were not detected. Therefore, it is proposed that the honeybee drone pupae collected from the beehives and immediately frozen as safe from harmful microorganisms and mycotoxins and can be used as a food material.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.105-114
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• 1996

Certain Fungi Including Aspergillus flavus produce low molecular secondary metabolite that is toxic to human and animals, which have been termed mycotoxin. Given the proper humidity and temperature like summer in Korea, are capable of growing of those hazard fungi and elaborating mycotoxin on almost any organic substrate such as traditional foodstuffs and their raw materials including rice, barley, corn, meju, doenjang and gochujang etc. Until now, some people have examined to isolate various fungi such as Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Fusarium sp. from traditional foodstuffs and raw materials, and have screened various mycotoxin producing strains. Some mycotoxin contamination such as aflatoxin, ochratoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone etc. also have been confirmed from similar above samples. But these data are different each other and inconsistent in experimental conditions and methods. Especially, almost experiments have been finished for one time. So more consistent experimental method and data are necessary to evaluate objectiely the safety of traditional foodstuffs subjected to the mycotoxin. For this purpose, we have to apply a new advanced technology to develop more simple and rapid methods for determination of mycotoxin and also have to concentrate our efforts on activation of research and accumulation of technology nth sustaining investment of financial support and enlargement of research installation. With those harmonious efforts, it should be possible to examine continuously nd systematically the mycotoxin contamination in our traditional foodstuffs and to assure the safety of them. Then we can maintain and develop the better traditional foodstuffs suited to internationalization.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.407-417
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• 2021

In order to investigate frequency of fungal contamination in ginseng sprout, we collected 18 types of retail ginseng sprouts and analyzed them. Overall frequency of fungal contamination ranged from 113.3 to 174.1% with the highest occurrence of Penicillium spp. Fungal detection rate was significantly higher in moss than in stem, leaf and root of ginseng sprout. Penicillium spp. occurred in leaf and stem with the highest incidence and Fusarium spp., in root. Among Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp., P. olsonii and F. oxysporum were dominant, respectively. Nine Fusarium species, Aspergillus westerdijkiae, Aspergillus flavus, and 11 Penicillium species were identified by phylogenetic analysis. PCR screening of mycotoxigenic potential revealed that 19 out of 25 isolates tested were positive for respective mycotoxin biosynthetic gene. Two 2 A. flavus and 11 A. westerdijkiae isolates produced varying amount of aflatoxin or ochratoxin A in czapek yeast extract brothsome of which showed high levels of mycotoxin production. These results suggests a need for continuous monitoring and management program to control fungal contamination in the ginseng sprout production chain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.723-738
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• 2011

Contamination of agricultural crops by mycotoxins results in significant economic losses for grain producers and, when consumed, it can cause reduced growth and health in a wide range of animal species. Hundreds of mycotoxin producing molds exist, however each has a different frequency and pattern of occurrence, as well as differences in the severity of the diseases (mycotoxicoses) they cause. Among the mycotoxins considered to be major contaminates are aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, ochratoxin, and zearalenone. Although a multitude of species can be harmed by consumption of these mycotoxins, swine appear to be the most commonly affected commodity species. The swine industry can thus experience great losses due to the presence of mycotoxin contamination in feeds. Subsequently, recognition and prevention of mycotoxicoses is extremely important and dependent on adequate grain sampling and analysis methods pre-harvest, as well as effective strategies post-harvest to reduce consumption by animals. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the major mycotoxin contaminants in grains, to describe methods of analysis and prevention to reduce mycotoxicoses in swine and other animals, and finally to discuss how mycotoxins directly affect swine production.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.10.1-10.5
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• 2010

Total aflatoxin and ochratoxin were detected in 3 naturally contaminated fish feed samples using immune-affinity method. The results revealed that the average levels of aflatoxins in the 3 examined samples were (15, 22 and $12\;{\mu}g/kg$) respectively while the average levels of ochratoxins were (15, 6 and $6\;{\mu}g/kg$). The results of determination of the effects of clay as a mycotoxin binder on the health status and performance of Oreochromis niloticus in comparing with a control group revealed that the survival rate in control group was 81% after the end of the culture season. The results also revealed that the survival rate in group 2 which received clay treated feed was 86%. The results of regular parasitological examination revealed the identification of trichodina as external protozoa in Oreochromis niloticus from both ponds but without manifestation of disease signs. The results of bacteriological examination revealed the isolation and identification of Pseudomonas flouresence from some moribund Oreochromis niloticus. Higher performance parameters were recorded in group 2 that received feeds treated with clay which reflected in the total production which reaches 1646.47 kg while in the control pond, the total production was1308.36 kg.

• Mycobiology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.215-217
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• 2009

Sixty four samples of cocoa beans replicated in quadruplicates were collected from five warehouses from southwest Nigeria and examined for fungal loads, ergosterol and eohratoxin A The levels of all the variables obtained were further used as indices for cocoa grading into food quality, FoQ (erg < 5 mg/kg; OTA < $1{\mu}g$/kg), feed quality, FeQ (erg = $5{\sim}10\;mg$/kg; OTA in the range of $1.1{\sim}3.11{\mu}g$/kg), Screen for mycotoxin, SFM (erg = $10{\sim}20\;mg$/kg; OTA from $3.12{\mu}g$/kg and above) with fuel quality, FuQ having erg > 20 mg/kg and OTA > $6.12{\mu}g$/kg. Using these ergosterol indices, 18.75% of the cocoa beans examined was classified with the FoQ, 18.75% with the FuQ while 31.25% was classified with both the FeQ and the SFM, respectively. In conclusion, ergosterol can be used as a rapid index to grade fermented, dried cocoa beans meant for export.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.215-220
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• 2017

The consumption of natural cheese in Korea has dramatically increased since 1997. However, most of the cheeses consumed in Korea are imported. Thus, surplus milk has accumulated in Korea. To solve this problem, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs established a policy to create a farmstead dairy industry. Although the law governing the industry was established in 2016, food safety guidelines have not been prepared. Milk and cheese are prone to contamination with mycotoxins such as aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A, antibiotic residues such as penicillin and tetracycline, and pathogenic bacteria including Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus. L. monocytogenes infections have a very high mortality rate; hence, special attention should be paid to preventing contamination of milk and cheese with this organism. To ensure the microbiological safety of farmstead dairy products, the HACCP model has been used. However, this model is not suitable for current processing environments of farmstead dairy products because of the small size of the operations. In addition, scientific data on the microbiological safety of farmstead dairy product are limited and are urgently needed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.7
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• 2021

The levels of aflatoxin (AFT) and ochratoxin (OCT) were assessed at different seasons in raw materials, different feed manufacture processing stages, and animal feeds in feed mills in Korea implementing the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system. Two hundred samples were collected in all four seasons from five feed mills implementing the HACCP system and examined for AFT and OCT contents. The AFT and OCT levels were analysed by using HPLC method to provide information on raw material and product stage. The AFT content of raw ingredients in the spring season was highest in corn gluten (3.84 ppb) and lowest in corn (1.82 ppb) The AFT content of corn was highest in the winter season (2.17 ppb). The content of OCT in wheat was highest in the winter season. The amounts of AFT and OCT at processing stages were higher than in the raw materials or feed. In particular, AFT content was higher in the transfer stage (3.88 ppb) than in the mixing (2.86 ppb) or filling stages (3.45 ppb) in the summer season. The means of AFT and OCT level in laying hen feed was 3.41 ppb and 1.14 ppb for broiler feed, respectively. The means of AFT and OCT level in and broiler feeds was 3.44 ppb and 1.17 ppb for broiler feed, respectively.