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Fungal Tremorgens
1National Peanut Research Laboratory. USDA, SEA, AR, SR, P.O. Box 637, Dawson, Georgia 31742.
Journal of Food Protection
|March 13, 2019
Summary
Fungal tremorgens contaminate animal feed. Further research is needed to assess if these toxins can enter the human food supply through residues in cattle tissues.
Area of Science:
- Food safety
- Mycology
- Veterinary toxicology
Background:
- Fungal tremorgens are known contaminants of animal feed supplies.
- Many fungi produce tremorgenic metabolites, raising concerns about food contamination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for fungal tremorgenic metabolites to contaminate the human food supply.
- To evaluate the indirect entry of tremorgens into the food chain via animal tissues.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of animal tissues, specifically cattle, fed fungal tremorgens.
- Investigating tremorgen residue levels in edible tissues.
Main Results:
- Tremorgen contamination in feed is established.
- Potential for tremorgenic metabolites to enter the food supply requires further investigation.
- Tissue residue analysis in cattle is proposed to confirm indirect contamination.
Conclusions:
- The established contamination of feed necessitates further study on food supply risks.
- Analysis of cattle tissues is crucial to determine if tremorgens transfer to the food supply.
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