FAO programmes for prevention, regulation, and control of mycotoxins in food

The article provides information on recent past and current activities carried out by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at national, regional, and international levels to assist member countries in overcoming the problems raised by mycotoxins in foods and feeds. It gives special emphasis to the preventive aspects at the stages of production and storage of those commodities which are particularly sensitive to mycotoxin contamination. Specific projects implemented by the FAO in various countries to prevent and control mycotoxin contamination are cited with particular reference to the on-going FAO/United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Training Network for Mycotoxin Control in Asia. The article also provides an update of the Codex Alimentarius effort to establish international guideline levels for different mycotoxins in various foodstuffs and agricultural commodities and to develop sampling plans for aflatoxin control in peanuts and maize and their products. It proposes a set of recommended actions at various levels to monitor and control mycotoxin levels in foods and to promote international cooperation in this field.