“Mycotoxins” are poisonous compounds or toxins that may be produced by various fungi. More than four hundred mycotoxins have been identified in grains and feedstuffs, but only a small number of these mycotoxins are potential concerns for livestock health and production.
Levels set by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Applied to corn and corn products
“FDA believes that controlling fumonisins to … recommended levels can reduce exposure to fumonisins that may be found in corn products intended for human and animal consumption.”
Guidance levels depend on commodity and species
Considered by FDA as:
“… adequate to protect human and animal health…”
“… achievable in human foods and animal feeds with the use of good agricultural and good manufacturing practices…”
Guidance levels based on total fumonisin levels (FB1 + FB2 +FB3)
Human foods: maximum 2 to 4 ppm
ppm = “parts per million” ii. ppm = milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
Animal feeds
Maximum 5 to 100 ppm for single ingredient
Corn or corn by‐products (up to maximum levels) should not make up more than 50% of diet for most animals
Corn or corn by‐products (up to maximum levels) should not make up more than 20% of diet for horses or rabbits
Adams, R.S. et. al. Mold and mycotoxin problems in livestock feeding. DAS 93‐21. Pennsylvania State Univ. Coop. Ext. Svc. 17 pg. http://www.das.psu.edu/research‐extension/dairy/nutrition/pdf/mold.pdf/view?searchterm=mycotoxin
Hurburgh, C.R. Mycotoxins in the Grain Market. Integrated Crop Mgmt. News. Iowa State University Extension. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Grain/Topics/MycotoxinsintheGrainMa rket.htm accessed 11/1/2009
Isakeit, T. 2006. Understanding Fumonisin Contamination of Corn: Contrasts and Comparisons With Aflatoxin. Texas A&M University. 2 pg.
National Feed and Grain Assn. 2016. NFGA Alert: Mycotoxins. https://imis.ngfa.org/images/uploads/NGFA‐Alert‐MycotoxinsSept282016‐FINAL.pdf accessed 11/18/2019.
Vincelli and Parker. 2002. Fumonisin, Vomitoxin, and Other Mycotoxins in Corn Produced by Fusarium Fungi. Pub ID‐121. Univ. of Kentucky Coop Ext. Serv., Lexington, KY. 8 pg.