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Mycotoxin analyses in the 2024 harvest season

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Analyses of all relevant harvest goods

Aug 2024. Mycotoxins pose a global health risk within the food chain, as they can cause acute and chronic toxic effects even in smallest quantities. Climatic conditions such as heat, humidity and drought stress have a critical influence on the formation of certain mycotoxins in harvested goods. In addition, the trend towards an increasingly plant-based diet poses a risk in terms of the population’s exposure to mycotoxins.

We give you an overview of the possible factors that favour the occurrence of mycotoxins and how we can support you analytically in testing your products.

Harvest season 2024:

Western and Central Europe: Wet weather conditions increase the risk of field toxins such as Fusarium toxins and ergot alkaloids

  • The extended wet weather conditions in parts of Europe can favour the development of field fungi such as Fusarium and Claviceps.
  • Therefore, Fusarium toxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON), T-2/HT-2 toxin and fumonisins as well as ergot alkaloids require increased attention.
  • We can help you with competent mycotoxin analysis to test your products to comply with the new and reduced maximum levels for DON, T-2/HT-2 toxin and ergot alkaloids, despite the increased potential risk of these mycotoxins due to weather conditions. The new maximum levels came into force on 1 July 2024 as a result of the Contaminants Regulation (EU) 2023/915.

Weather damages during harvest may promote the formation of further toxins

  • Rain and high humidity before the harvest can lead to further infection risks.
  • Black mould (Alternaria) can be spread in the field or during cultivation of vegetables resulting in the formation of Alternaria toxins.
  • Penicillium fungi, which can produce ochratoxin A, may infestate harvest good during storage in case crops are harvested in a wet stage and are insufficiently dried.
  • Viticulture in particular is at risk from ochratoxin A, which is produced by Aspergillus fungi. High temperatures, such as those observed this year in Greece and South-Eastern Europe, can particularly affect grapes.

South-Eastern Europe and the Black Sea: Heat and drought stress increases the risk of aflatoxins in maize

  • The heatwave in South-Eastern Europe is hitting maize at a critical stage of development.
  • Drought stress increases the susceptibility of plants to Aspergillus infections, which can lead to the formation of aflatoxins in maize.
  • Since the feeding of maize contaminated with carcinogenic toxins (aflatoxins B, G) also causes carcinogenic metabolites (especially aflatoxin M1) in the milk, appropriate quality control of feed and milk is also recommended.

Sample homogenisation and mycotoxin analysis at the Eurofins Competence Centre

Our experts at the Competence Centre for Mycotoxins and Plant Toxins of the Eurofins Food & Feed Testing laboratories in Germany have many years of experience in the analysis of all legally regulated and many other mycotoxins and plant toxins in a variety of food and feed matrices.

Since mycotoxins and plant toxins can be inhomogeneously distributed in harvested goods, the new EU sampling regulation for mycotoxins (EU) 2023/2782 and plant toxins (Regulation (EU) 2023/2783) lays down rules for sampling and analysis.

We offer you many years of expertise in both dry grinding and wet homogenisation of large sample quantities (up to several 10 kg) for a variety of food and feed matrices. We also offer sampling and sample collection services. Automated sample preparation and large measuring capacities enable rapid analysis to facilitate fast decisions in the context of the release of harvest goods.

The following mycotoxins and plant toxins are part of our portfolio:

Regulated mycotoxins

  • Aflatoxins B, G und M1
  • Ochratoxin A
  • Deoxynivalenol
  • Zearalenone
  • Fumonisins B1, B2, B3
  • T-2/HT-2 Toxin
  • Citrinin
  • Patulin
  • Ergot alkaloids

Further mycotoxins

  • Alternaria toxins
  • Beauvericin
  • Enniatins
  • 1- and 15-Acetyldeoxynivalenol
  • Nivalenol
  • Sterigmatocystin
  • Fusarenone X
  • Diacteoxyscirpenol
  • etc.

Plant toxins

  • Opium alkaloids
  • Tropane alkaloids
  • Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
  • Chinolizidine alkaloids

Contact us

Do you have questions regarding the analysis of mycotoxins and plant toxins as part of your crop inspections? Contact your personal account manager or get in touch with our expert expert Carina Kellner.