Farmers Review Africa July/Aug 2017 Farmers Review Africa July/Aug 2017 | Page 18

Supplement Our Moldy World- Mycotoxins
Our Moldy World- Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi
food chain, laid down by import countries. As weapons in the
erefore, the emphasis in our industry has used to test their efficacy. Simulating intestinal
become more sophisticated, so must the methods
(moulds) that display widely-varying toxic
properties (carcinogens, immunosuppressants,
ght against mycotoxins
hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, etc.). Such shied somewhat from agricultural political conditions and 'stress gene' technology are very
mycotoxins are capable of contaminating issues to more technical and social issues. One of helpful but sometimes no longer the best or fastest
agricultural products (grains, milk) and the threats that required re-evaluation of the approach to help to develop more effective
foodstuffs (cereal products, drinks), thereby way we take responsibility for the products we elimination strategies. A recent technique is the
impairing their public-health quality. produce is the incidence of mycotoxins in feeds use of biomarkers.
ere are over 400 mycotoxins, but only a few of
for the production of safer and more efficient Most mycotoxin adsorbents only bind within a
food. certain pH-range and release the toxins as pH
increases during gut propulsion.
these (about ten) are subject to regulatory
controls under European or national legislation Mycotoxicosis is an example of hazards in food on animal feeds and human foodstuffs. that is strongly linked to feed, and is attracting Nearly 2 decades ago, Impextraco introduced a
Furthermore, other mycotoxins (among which greater attention due to the development of gut simulation model enabling to select the most
we nd emerging mycotoxins) are being studied increasingly sensitive testing techniques as well effective binders. Moreover, eliminating agents,
at the present time in relation to their presence in as advances in the understanding of the severe such as enzymes and natural extracts were
the food chain, also for their toxicological threat mycotoxins pose to both animal and selected using a high throughput screening
properties. human health. No region of the world escapes technique.
If we look at the current animal product export United Nations Fo o d and Agric ulture e combined effect of this multiple strategy on
Organization approximately 25% of the world's the efficacy of eliminating mycotoxins in feed was
the problem of mycotoxins and according to the
gures it is evident that the South African
industry is serious in continuing to explore these
grain supply is contaminated.
extensively tested in vitro simulating the digestive
tract. To do so Impextraco collaborated in a
markets. To export feed or food derived from our
feeds, demands compliance with control systems Imp extraco- Improv ing mycotoxin project to develop a gut simulator and still is
at all stages of production and in all sectors of the elimination with new technologies intensively working on their in house gut
July - August 2017
[18] FARMERS
REVIEW AFRICA
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