Deadly Mycotoxins Found In Breakfast Cereals

Aflatoxins Cause Liver Disease and Liver Cancer

Aflatoxins are potent mycotoxins that cause liver disease and liver cancer in humans and animals. The molds causing aflatoxin infect cereals and nuts.

Aflatoxin is classified into a number of subtypes. The most important ones are B1, B2, G1 and G2.

According to the Pakistan study, 41% of breakfast cereal samples were found contaminated with AFs. Of the contaminated samples, 8% were above the European Union's maximum safe levels for total AFs.

And 16% were above the EU's limit for AFB1. In fact, unlike most other mycotoxins, there is no tolerable daily intake (TDI) for aflatoxin B1 because it is carcinogenic. The highest levels of AFB1 and total AFs were found in semolina.

An earlier 2012 Pakistan study of cereals found 38% were contaminated with four types of AFs. And 21% of processed foods intended for infants contained AFB1 levels above the EU's maximums.[ii]

And just last year the European Food Safety Authority issued a technical report entitled Aflatoxins (sum of B1, B2, G1, G2) in cereals and cereal-derived food products. A total of 2,183 food samples were collected between 2007 and 2012. The EFSA found 10% of the products contained one of the four most common aflatoxins. Of those, 6 cereal and milling products were above the maximum EU limits as were 2 breakfast cereal samples.

Aflatoxin is associated with both acute and chronic toxicity. It causes acute liver damage, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancers. Chronic toxicity has been linked to eating peanuts and cereals.[iii]

Aflatoxin was discovered some 30 years ago in England following a poisoning outbreak causing 100,000 turkey deaths. Among mycotoxins known to cause human disease, aflatoxins have been studied most.

Ochratoxin A Is Toxic to Kidneys and a Probable Human Carcinogen

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin formed during the storage of crops. Contamination has been reported in cereals, coffee, vine fruits (grapes), and nuts.

OTA is toxic to the kidneys (nephrotoxic) and the immune system. It's also been classified as a probable human carcinogen.

In the Pakistan study, about 48% of the breakfast cereal samples were found contaminated with OTA. Of those, 30% were found to be above the EU maximum. The highest levels of OTA were also found in semolina products.

Zearalenone (ZEA) Mycotoxin Disrupts Hormones

Zearalenone (ZEA) mycotoxins originate in grains such as corn, barley, oats, wheat, rice and sorghum.[iv] They've even been found in beer. But animal products containing the toxin are also affected. ZEA can be found in grain-fed meat, eggs and dairy products.

In Pakistan, 53% of the breakfast cereal samples were found contaminated with ZEA. Of those, 8% were above the permissible EU limit. Cornflakes had the highest ZEA contamination levels.

A groundbreaking 2011 study found ZEA in the urine of 78.5% of New Jersey girls sampled . The girls (aged 9 and 10 years) who tested positive for the ZEA toxin "tended to be shorter and less likely to have reached the onset of breast development."[v] The researchers also found an association between the young girls' ZEA urinary levels and their intake of commonly contaminated sources such as beef and popcorn.

Research from 30 years ago had shown the estrogenic properties of mycotoxins. Young female piglets fed mycotoxin-contaminated grains showed abnormal sexual development.

How To Protect Yourself From Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins form while cereal crops are growing or in post-harvest storage. The contamination is nearly impossible to eliminate. They may not be completely removed by cleaning. And they are not killed during cooking or processing so they frequently make their way into final products.

Whether mycotoxins pose a serious health risk depends on how toxic a particular strain is, how much contamination is present, and how much of the contaminated product is consumed.

It affects both conventionally grown and organic grains.[vi] And GMO grains may be particularly susceptible. A recent study revealed Roundup herbicide enhances the growth of aflatoxin-producing fungi. It's been suggested that GMOs may be responsible for an alarming increase in fungal toxins in U.S. corn supplies.

Reducing mycotoxin risk may require a move away from cereal grains altogether and toward other vegetarian options such as leafy greens.

Also, regularly eating healthy spices may boost your resistance to the toxins' effects. Garlic has been found to reduce the adverse effects of zearalenone toxicity . Another study found turmeric, curcumin, garlic, and ellagic acid (found in pomegranate) significantly inhibited damage from the aflatoxin B1 strain. Researchers suggested that antioxidant food additives may be useful in ameliorating aflatoxin-induced mutagenicity and carcinogenicity.[vii]

This is a great reason to add healthy seasonings to your cooking. Regular use of herbs and spices may well protect us from a range of dangerous pathogens in the food supply.

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[i] Iqbal SZ et al, Assessment of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in breakfast cereals. Journal Food Chem. 2014 Aug 15;157:257-62. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.01.129. Epub 2014 Feb 19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24679779

[ii] J. Tam et al, Survey of breakfast and infant cereals for aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 Food Additives and Contaminants, July 2006, 23(7): 693–699

[iii] Risk Assessment Studies Report No. 5, Chemical Hazards Evaluation, AFLATOXIN IN FOODS An Evaluation of Aflatoxin Surveillance Findings in Hong Kong 1998-2000 http://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/safefood/report/aflatoxin/report.pdf

[iv] INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY review on Zearalenone

[v] Elisa V Bandera, Urmila Chandran, Brian Buckley, Yong Lin, Sastry Isukapalli, Ian Marshall, Melony King, Helmut Zarbl. Urinary mycoestrogens, body size and breast development in New Jersey girls . Full Free Text. Sci Total Environ. 2011 Oct 3. Epub 2011 Oct 3. PMID: 21975003

[vi] Carlo Brera, Carla Catano, Barbara de Santis, Francesca Debegnach, Marzia de Giacomo, Elena Pannunzi, Marina Miraglia. Effect of industrial processing on the distribution of aflatoxins and zearalenone in corn-milling fractions . J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Jul 12 ;54(14):5014-9. PMID: 16819910

[vii] K.B. Soni et al, Protective effect of food additives on aflatoxin-induced mutagenicity and hepatocarcinogenicity, Cancer Letters Volume 115, Issue 2 , Pages 129-133, 19 May 1997 http://www.cancerletters.info/article/S0304-3835%2897%2904710-1/abstract