Adsorption techniques for mycotoxin mitigation in food: a review

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Mycotoxins, toxic fungal metabolites, contaminate food, posing health risks to humans and animals.
• Investigating effective methods to mitigate mycotoxin contamination in food is crucial for public health and animal welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the applicability and efficacy of adsorption as a technology for mycotoxin mitigation in various food matrices.
• To highlight the advantages of adsorption over chemical and biological methods for mycotoxin removal.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on adsorption for mycotoxin mitigation.
• Analysis of adsorption as a surface phenomenon and its impact on food quality.
• Evaluation of environmental and economic aspects of adsorbent materials.

Main Results:

• Adsorption demonstrates high removal rates and a simple design compared to other methods.
• Adsorption does not compromise food quality, unlike methods using harsh solvents or high temperatures.
• Adsorbent materials can be environmentally friendly, economical, and reusable.

Conclusions:

• Adsorption is a highly effective and safe technology for reducing mycotoxins in food.
• The choice of adsorbent material influences environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and reusability.
• Adsorption presents a viable strategy for enhancing food safety and quality globally.