ICAR Research Data Repository for Knowledge Management

Mycotoxin contaminated food is of concern to public health with implications for global trade. Consequently, several countries have laid down regulations or guideline/tolerance levels for the most important mycotoxins namely, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, patulin, zearalenone, T-2 toxin and fumonisins. The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has been examining this problem in its endeavor to harmonize regulations. This communication gives an update on the status of the existing regulations in various countries, an overview of the health hazard of each mycotoxin, followed with a discussion on the role of the CAC in providing a platform to come to a consensus on the maximum permitted levels in foods.