Mycotoxins in meat products

Mycotoxin presence in meat products is principally due to the development of toxigenic moulds during ripening, which concretely affect the dry-cured ones. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is the most prevalent mycotoxin in dry-cured hams and fermented sausages. Apart from collecting information on the main toxigenic moulds in dry-cured meat products, the objective of this review is to compile data about the mycotoxin prevalence and the tools for their mitigation. Although no very extensive studies have been performed on the mycotoxin occurrence in such products, much research has been conducted over the last 15 years, particularly in the European Mediterranean countries. Large differences in OTA incidence and amount have been reported, which can be due to differences in the processing followed, the climatic conditions of the producing region, the mould population present or the used detection method. Nevertheless, most of the mean and maximum OTA values observed in dry-cured meat products are above the maximum level of 1 microg/kg recommended officially for pork products in Italy. Aflatoxin B₁, cyclopiazonic acid, sterigmatocystin and citrinin are only occasionally reported from dry-cured meat products. To control mycotoxin contamination, manufacturers have several strategies available, with the biopreservation ones being the most appropriate, since the modification of environmental parameters is not feasible, especially in products with long ripening. Native microorganisms alone or in combination with plant extracts are sustainable biopreservatives with a special interest in dry-cured meat products to mitigate the mycotoxin contamination. All these strategies are extensively described in this review, with special attention paid to OTA.