Feedstuffs, contaminated aflatoxin

Other countries have similar regulations. Limits have also been set on aflatoxin contamination, because of its connection with liver cancer. The FDA guidelines in the USA allow no more than 20 pg/kg aflatoxin in animal feeds. The EU regulation (SI No 283,1998) sets limits between 5 and 50 pg/kg (ppb) for aflatoxin B1 in animal feedstuffs, depending on the feed ingredient and the animal for which the feedstuff is intended. The limit for a complete feedstuff for poultry and pigs was set at 20 pg/kg (ppb). 

Food-producing animals can ingest mycotoxin contaminated feedstuffs and mycotoxin residues can be present in edible animal products. The concern for residues of mycotoxins in edible animal products has primarily been focused on residues of aflatoxins (Coppock and Christian, 2007). Residues of some mycotoxins in animal products can be... 

Allcroft and Carnaghan (1962, 1963) first reported that intake of aflatoxin-contaminated feedstuff by dairy cows resulted in excretion of a toxic factor in their milk within a few hours. Subsequently, Allcroft et al. (1966) and Holzapfel et al. (1966) identified aflatoxin Mi (the 4-hydroxy derivative of aflatoxin Bi) as the principal toxic metabolite in milk. 

Aflatoxin contamination causes economic losses of corn, cottonseed, peanuts, sorghum, wheat, rice, and other commodities, as well as economic losses of processed food and feedstuffs. As commodities considered unsafe for human consumption can be incorporated into animal feedstuffs [2,3], there exists opinion that aflatoxicosis in domestic animals is considerably more prevalent than it is diagnosed. Health effects occur in companion animals, livestock, poultry, and humans because aflatoxins are potent hepatotoxins, immunosuppressants, mutagens, and carcinogens [4-6]. Aflatoxins are teratogenic [7]. 

Mycotoxin-contaminated feedstuffs could be pm-chased at a bargain price and used as a terrorist tactic in the manufacture of a completed feed. For example, horse or swine feeds could be formulated with a high level of grain by-products that are known to contain mycotoxins. Field incidences of mycotoxicoses not linked to terrorist activities have been reported from the use of mycotoxin-contaminated by-products in formulating ruminant, horse, and swine feeds (Wilson et al., 1990 Osweiler et al., 1992 Riet-Correa et al., 2013). Pet foods have been contaminated with aflatoxins and they caused illness and deaths of companion animals in regional areas (Arnot et al., 2012 Wouters et al., 2013). 

FIGURE 6.3 Chemical structure of the different types of aflatoxins. Aflatoxins B and G occur in infested grains, whereas M aflatoxins are found in the milk of lactating animals fed contaminated feedstuffs. 

---