Deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, Fumosins are major mycotoxins regulated by European Regulation 1881/2006 and its amendments.
Recent EFSA studies have highlighted other derivatives of these molecules: modified mycotoxins.
These "modified" mycotoxins are found following a defensive reaction of the plant after infection or are produced by the fungus itself. They are called "masked" when they are derived from the plant's metabolism.
The main hidden forms:
- DON: 3-acetyl-DON (3-Ac-DON), 15-acetyl-DON (15-Ac-DON) and DON-3-glucoside in seeds and cereals.
- fumosins: HFB1 in corn
- zearalenone: alpha-zearalenol, beta-zearalenol, alpha-zearalanol, beta-zearalanol, zearalanone and ZEA-14-glucoside in seeds and cereals.
The first results of EFSA's studies have shown that modified forms of mycotoxins have the same toxicity as their "parents".
Plant foods are more sensitive to contamination by these metabolites. For animal products, no data are available but their occurrence is expected to be low.
The impact of these "modified" and "masked" mycotoxins on health is still poorly understood.
Currently there is no draft regulation but an evaluation process is underway with data collection.
You can consult the EFSA reports via the following links:
For amended forms of the DON:
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4718
For modified forms of fumosins:
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5242
For the amended forms of the EAZ:
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4851
Please note that your laboratory is able to measure certain modified mycotoxins, do not hesitate to contact us for any additional technical or regulatory information.
