Removal and Control of Mycotoxins Contamination

Dear Colleagues,

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that grow in or on crops and are known to cause human and animal diseases. Too much or too little water during the growing season, temperature variations, pests, and unhygienic conditions for drying and storage are among the major factors that contribute to the proliferation of fungal infections, and subsequently to mycotoxin production. Human and animal exposure to these toxins is mainly through the food supply. Mycotoxins represent a major food safety hazard. A reduction in risk requires an integrated systems approach that includes targeted agronomic cultural practices, biological control methods, and enhancement of host plant resistance, coupled with postharvest technologies such as proper drying, storage, sorting of affected crop products, and development of appropriate decontamination/detoxification strategies, so that affected crops retain at least some economic value. Although some of these strategies have been observed to be effective for mycotoxin controlling and removal from food commodities, however, there are several problems and limitations associated to most of them that still need overcoming.

This Special Issue will address these limitations and will collect data on the most recent advances related to mitigating mycotoxin contamination in food and feed, including masked and emerging mycotoxins, and co-occurring mycotoxins with other chemical and biological contaminants. It will review the latest developed technologies for controlling mycotoxins, including preharvest prevention strategies and postharvest decontamination procedures that minimize mycotoxin hazards and increase consumer safety. The Special Issue, providing new insights into the detoxification and elimination of mycotoxins with developing innovative control strategies, intends to be beneficial to the food and feed industry. Practical factors that affect the feasibility of each method in practical manufacturing will be addressed.

Dr. Giuseppina Avantaggiato
Prof. Dr. Sabine Schorr-Galindo
Guest Editors

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