Innovative Detection and Mitigation of Ergot Alkaloids in Cereals: Advancing Food Safety

Background/Objectives: Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxins produced mainly by fungi of the genus Claviceps, infecting a wide variety of plants, especially cereals. These toxins usually manifest as black, hardened sclerotia (ergots), though they may also be invisible when dispersed in grain. They pose a significant risk to animals and humans when present in contaminated cereals. They can cause ergotism, with vasoconstriction, ischemia, hallucinations, and in severe cases gangrene. This study was carried out in response to the European legislative actions which determine the permissible levels of ergot alkaloids in cereals. Historically, consumers manually removed visible sclerotia from grain, and farmers applied fertilizers or timed harvests to specific periods to mitigate contamination. However, these traditional methods have proven insufficient. We therefore explored advanced techniques for detecting and quantifying ergot-contaminated cereals, as well as methods for reducing ergot alkaloid concentrations. Methods: Searches were conducted in scientific databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus to identify research articles, reviews, and experimental studies published mainly between 2012 and August 2025, including accepted or in-press manuscripts, with special attention to works from 2021 onward to capture the most recent advancements. Results/Conclusions: Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) is the reference method for confirmatory, epimer-aware quantification of ergot alkaloids, and is already standardized. Recent QuEChERS-UHPLC-MS/MS workflows in cereal matrices, including oat-based products, routinely achieve limits of quantification of about 0.5-1.0 µg/kg with single-run analysis times of about 5-15 min. Rapid screening options complement, rather than replace, confirmatory mass spectrometry: magnetic bead-based immunoassays that use magnetic separation and a smartphone-linked potentiostat provide sub-hour turnaround and field portability for trained quality-assurance staff, although external validation and calibration traceable to LC-MS/MS remain prerequisites for routine use. In practice, operators are adopting tiered, orthogonal workflows (e.g., immunoassay or electronic-nose triage at intake followed by DNA-based checks on grain washings and LC-MS/MS confirmation, or hydrazinolysis "sum parameter" screening followed by targeted MS speciation). Such combinations reduce turnaround time while preserving analytical rigor. Biotechnology also offers potential solutions for reducing ergot alkaloid concentrations at the source. Finally, to enhance consumer safety, artificial intelligence and blockchain-based food traceability appear highly effective. These systems can connect all stakeholders from producers to consumers, allowing for real-time updates on food safety and rapid responses to contamination issues. This review primarily synthesizes advances in analytical detection of ergot alkaloids, while mitigation strategies and supply chain traceability are covered concisely as supporting context for decision making.