Mycotoxins and Mycotoxin Producing Fungi in Pollen: Review

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Mycology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Pollen's nutritional value makes it a potential food supplement.
• Toxigenic fungi in pollen can produce dangerous mycotoxins.
• Favorable conditions for mycotoxin synthesis exist during pollen processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the global occurrence of mycotoxins in pollen.
• To propose pathways for aflatoxin contamination in pollen.
• To emphasize the need for mycotoxicological analysis and regulation of pollen as a food supplement.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of mycotoxin presence in global pollen samples.
• Analysis of factors contributing to mycotoxin synthesis.
• Examination of current EU legislation and proposed limits.

Main Results:

• Several mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and fumonisins, are prevalent in pollen.
• Aflatoxins are the most researched mycotoxins in pollen, with proposed limits.
• Limited regulatory information exists for other mycotoxins in pollen.

Conclusions:

• Pollen intended for consumption requires regular mycotoxicological analysis.
• There is a need for legal regulation and defined tolerable limits for various mycotoxins in pollen.
• Addressing mycotoxin contamination is crucial for ensuring the safety of pollen as a food supplement.