What will the new grain and maize harvest bring? That is always a suspenseful moment, for growers as well as importers, food manufacturers, and processors. It comes down to both quality and release for the next step in the supply chain, guided by mandatory testing and the resulting certificates of analysis. A prime example is the analysis of mycotoxins: toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi. “Usually, we see that our clients’ samples contain no mycotoxins or remain well below the maximum limits,” says Jaap Hengstmengel, Business Unit Manager at Eurofins LabCo. “Only rarely do we encounter a mycotoxin limit violation. I hope things turn out well again this year.” Unfortunately, weather conditions have been unfavourable.
The spring of 2023 was exceptionally wet, followed in some regions by periods of extreme heat before and during the summer. In early August, heavy rainfall returned. Not only did the wet conditions complicate sowing and harvesting, but mould also thrives in alternating periods of heavy rain and high temperatures. Hengstmengel: “Mycotoxins can form in a raw material or finished product through mould growth, for example, before or during harvest, during warm and humid storage, or when the product is poorly packaged. When moulds secrete toxic mycotoxins, they can be harmful to health and carcinogenic even at very low concentrations.”
Mycotoxins are invisible to the naked eye. “Only through laboratory testing can you truly see how the harvest has developed. That makes it a high-stakes analysis for growers: it dictates how and where they can market their new crop. Once mycotoxins contaminate grain or maize, they cannot be removed. For human consumption, legislation on mycotoxins is stringent, as set out in Regulation (EU) 2023/915. For animal feed, the requirements and GMP+ guidelines are somewhat more flexible. Consequently, grain or maize can sometimes still be sold as animal feed, but not as a raw material for high-grade food products. In that scenario, a grower has to downgrade the product from food to feed grade, representing a considerable financial loss due to lower market prices. The next consideration is whether the maize or grains are suitable for dairy cattle or beef cattle, as limits for dairy cattle are stricter,” explains Hengstmengel.
That is why it is vital to test for mycotoxins as early in the supply chain as possible. Hengstmengel: “The sooner you know where you stand, the better. Fortunately, we can analyse mycotoxins very quickly today. Upon request, we can even report analytical results on the same day the samples arrive at the laboratory. That is considerably faster than a few years ago. This ensures grains or maize do not remain in storage unnecessarily long and can move smoothly to the next link in the chain.”
Representative sampling in accordance with EU guidelines is critical. “To obtain an accurate picture of mycotoxin contamination in a consignment, sampling must be performed meticulously according to Regulation (EC) No 401/2006. The mycotoxin level can be very high in a single grain while being entirely absent in the adjacent kernel. A clean test result alone does not tell the full story if the sample was not drawn properly. When evaluating a Certificate of Analysis, always verify how the sampling was conducted,” Hengstmengel notes.
Mycotoxins can also develop during warm, humid storage or if the commodity is improperly packed. Hengstmengel: “We therefore advise storing grain and maize cool and dry post-harvest to prevent fungal growth.” In addition to grains and maize, spices, nuts, raisins, and dairy products are also high-risk matrices susceptible to mycotoxin formation from fungal proliferation.
Would you like to learn more about mycotoxin development, specific risks for your maize or grain crops, or mycotoxin levels in other vulnerable commodities? Or do you need advice on representative sampling protocols, or wish to have sampling carried out by a certified expert? You can always reach out to us by phone or email.
We can screen for and rule out the presence of mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone, fumonisins, nivalenol, T-2, HT-2, and patulin, with same-day rush testing. We perform this testing under RvA accreditation across a wide range of matrices: from grains, seeds, animal feed, and oils to bread, spices, nuts, raisins, and dairy products. With our ultra-low limits of detection (LOD), we can analyse your raw materials or finished goods against the most stringent regulatory standards.
Call us at +31 (0) 180 643 000 or email Sales-food-NL@eurofins.com.