Situation of mycotoxins Contamination in food and regulation on mycotoxins in Malaysia

Abstract

The occurrence of mycotoxin in a large no. of foods is a major health concern for Malaysia, as some mycotoxins such as aflatoxin are genotoxic carcinogenic substances where there is no threshold level below which no harmful effect is obsd. For most mycotoxin, current scientific and tech. knowledge and improvements in prodn. and storage techniques do not prevent the development of molds that produce these toxins. As such, setting limits that are practical and achievable and monitoring mycotoxins levels become necessary, which Malaysia has carried out. Monitoring of aflatoxin in raw peanuts imported into Malaysia in 2004 indicated a detection rate of 50 % and 6 % were detected with total aflatoxin exceeding 15 micro g/kg Maximum level in Malaysia's Food Regulation. In 2004 and 2005, samples of raw peanut taken from retailed market showed 81 % were detected with aflatoxin and 38 % were detected with more than 15 micro g/kg of total aflatoxin. The current practice of storage and the natural high temps. and humidity levels contributed to the high occurrence at the retail market. In comparison roasted peanut in-shell was found to be much less contaminated. However, the rice was found to be relatively safe. A total of 96 rice sample taken in 2005 showed no trace of aflatoxin contamination. Only 18 out of 200 rice samples analyzed (9 contaminated with traces of zearalenone ranged between 6 to 11 micro g/kg and none contaminated with ochratoxin. Detn. of aflatoxin was performed by HPLC with photochem. reactor after cleaned up using immuno affinity column. Zearalenone and ochratoxin were detd. by HPLC fluorescence detection after cleaned up using Immuno Affinity Column. In this paper, the mycotoxin monitoring results in 2004 and 2005 is reviewed and health hazard using risk assessment approached related to aflatoxin is assessed. on SciFinder (R)