Search Results (333)

Global poultry consumption continues to rise, while worldwide bans on in-feed antibiotic growth promoters raise an urgent requirement for eco-friendly alternatives to guarantee production efficiency and food safety. Probiotics, live beneficial microorganisms that improve host intestinal health, are reviewed. We elaborate four core functional pathways of probiotics: competitive exclusion of pathogens, enhancement of intestinal barrier integrity, immune modulation and regulation of microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. Their mitigating effects against heat stress, suboptimal rearing environments, mycotoxin contamination, heavy metal exposure and immune stress are analyzed. We further evaluate the capacity of single and compound probiotics to control major poultry diseases. Early-life intervention strategies and innovative preparations (multistrain probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics) are systematically summarized. Critical bottlenecks restricting industrial translation are highlighted, including empirical strain combination, non-standardized administration protocols, divergent evaluation indicators and single-factor laboratory challenge models inconsistent with actual farm conditions. Finally, we propose future research directions covering multi-omics-assisted strain screening, optimized delivery technology, unified industrial quality control standards and field verification under compound stress. This review offers integrated references for mechanistic research, strain development and precise industrial application of probiotics in sustainable antibiotic-free poultry breeding. Full article

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most toxic mycotoxins, widely contaminating agricultural products and posing a serious threat to food safety and human health. Enzymatic degradation is considered a promising detoxification strategy due to its high efficiency, strong specificity, and lack of secondary pollution. AKR13B3, a member of the aldo-keto reductase family, possesses intrinsic catalytic activity for AFB1 degradation; however, its low natural activity severely limits practical application. In this study, the binding mode of the AKR13B3-NADPH complex with AFB1 was first determined using AlphaFold 3.0 and AutoDock Vina. Through interaction analysis, Trp102 and Asp41 were identified as key targets for enhancing catalytic activity. Following site-directed mutagenesis screening, two mutants, D41H and D41T, with significantly improved catalytic activity were obtained, exhibiting 52.32% and 46.44% higher activity than the wild-type enzyme, respectively. Three-dimensional structural simulation revealed that D41H and D41T form stable interactions with the carbonyl group on the lactone ring of AFB1, thereby polarizing the carbonyl group and reducing the activation energy of the reaction, ultimately enhancing catalytic activity. Substrate channel analysis demonstrated that, compared with the wild-type, the D41H and D41T mutants significantly increased the bottleneck radius of the substrate channel (by 25% and 22%, respectively) and shortened the channel length (by 23% and 33%, respectively), thereby partially relieving steric hindrance and diffusion limitations and improving catalytic efficiency. In summary, this study elucidates the molecular basis by which D41H and D41T enhance the catalytic activity of AKR13B3 toward AFB1 through the dual mechanisms of external/hydrogen bond catalysis and channel remodeling, providing an important theoretical foundation for the rational design and directed engineering of AFB1-degrading enzymes. Full article

Fungal contamination and mycotoxins remain important hazards in cereal, nut, oilseed, and processed-food chains. For grain handlers, processors, storage facilities, quality-assurance laboratories, and technology developers, the practical challenge is not only detection but determining when an AI-enabled optical output is sufficiently documented to support accepting, holding, sorting, or referring material for confirmatory analysis. This critical narrative review, supported by structured evidence appraisal, examines artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for fungal and mycotoxin risk management. The focused evidence map comprises a combined 20-study evidence map, including 17 spectral-imaging studies and three contextual non-imaging near-infrared studies addressing aflatoxins, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OTA), fungal status, and co-contamination; no patulin-specific AI-HSI study met the defined corpus criteria. Most evidence remains laboratory-based, with controlled contamination, limited independent validation, incomplete transfer testing, or no line-level demonstration. The review proposes the preliminary Food–AI Deployment-Readiness Framework (F-AIDRF), a non-regulatory appraisal tool covering analytical validity, algorithmic robustness, explainability and auditability, transferability and maintenance, operational feasibility, and decision integration. Applied descriptively, F-AIDRF is intended to reveal missing evidence, not to certify technologies. For food-industry readers, it offers a practical vocabulary for comparing screen-sort-confirm systems before investment, pilot testing, or regulatory-facing use. Full article

Honey is a natural food product highly valued for its nutritional and biological properties. Its quality and safety are increasingly affected by environmental contamination and apicultural practices. Among the most relevant contaminants, pesticide residues, veterinary antibiotics, and heavy metals represent major concerns due to their potential impact on human health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, sources, and distribution of these contaminants in honey, with particular emphasis on their relationship with agricultural activities, environmental pollution, and beekeeping treatments. Advanced analytical techniques, including liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), are highlighted for their ability to enable sensitive multi-residue and trace-level detection. The application of chemometric tools for data analysis and sample classification is also addressed, supporting the identification of contamination patterns and origin-related differences. In addition, recent developments in rapid screening methods and environmentally sustainable analytical approaches are discussed. Overall, this review emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and the integration of advanced analytical strategies to ensure honey safety, support regulatory compliance, and protect consumers. Full article

Mycotoxins contaminate a wide range of foods and may contribute to both acute toxicity and chronic dietary exposure. Because online video increasingly shapes public interpretation of food-safety hazards, we evaluated the quality of English-language YouTube™ content on foodborne mycotoxin risks. Of 166 records screened for eligibility, 53 were excluded and 113 videos were analyzed. Two food-safety experts independently evaluated each video with an investigator-developed Video Content Quality (VCQ) checklist, the Global Quality Scale (GQS), and a five-item modified DISCERN instrument. The final sample comprised 77 company/commercial and 36 academic/noncommercial videos. After Holm adjustment across five source-group outcomes, company/commercial videos had higher VCQ and modified DISCERN scores (both adjusted p < 0.001), whereas academic/noncommercial videos had a higher interaction rate (adjusted p = 0.024). The GQS comparison did not meet the adjusted significance threshold (adjusted p = 0.066) and should not be interpreted as proof of equivalence. Video age was associated with cumulative views and likes but not with any quality score after correction. Item-level VCQ results showed that authoritative-source citation and health-effects coverage were among the least frequently awarded full-credit domains. Although the three quality measures were strongly correlated, neither interaction rate nor viewing rate was significantly associated with them. Platform engagement therefore did not serve as a reliable marker of scientific quality in this sample. Source- and region-based comparisons remain exploratory because the single-query design, broad uploader categories, and uneven source composition may have shaped the sampled videos. Full article

Background/Objective: Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a naturally occurring bioactive compound derived from the leaves, bark, roots, and flowers of the Chinese medicinal plant Cinnamomum cassia. It exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, encompassing antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Notably, it has shown potential therapeutic benefits in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Ochratoxin A (OTA), a common contaminant found in foods such as cereals, coffee, and raisins, is also present in traditional Chinese medicinal materials, including Astragalus and liquorice. T2DM and NAFLD share intertwined pathophysiological pathways, including insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress, with insulin resistance serving as the common pathological hub for both conditions. Consequently, they frequently co-occur and exacerbate each other. OTA exerts dual-targeted toxicity to the pancreas and liver, which may synergistically drive the development of the comorbidity of T2DM and NAFLD. These two processes are mutually causal and together constitute the pathological basis of metabolic comorbidity. Methods: Network toxicology employs toxicological data, gene expression, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks to predict the targets of toxins, while network pharmacology, based on systems biology principles, reveals how drugs exert regulatory effects through multiple targets and pathways. In this study, we employed an integrated network toxicology and network pharmacology approach to jointly decipher the potential mechanisms by which CA intervenes in OTA-induced comorbid T2DM-NAFLD. First, a network toxicology approach was employed to preliminarily screen for core toxicological targets responsible for OTA’s pathogenicity. Subsequently, network pharmacology was used to identify potential targets of CA-mediated intervention in the disease. Finally, the common overlap among the CA intervention targets, OTA toxicity targets, and disease targets was defined as the final set of potential targets for CA-mediated intervention in OTA-induced T2DM-NAFLD comorbidity. A PPI network was constructed using the STRING database, and topological analysis was performed with Cytoscape. Core targets were selected using the median values of six parameters—betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, degree centrality, eigenvector centrality, LAC (local average connectivity) score, and network centrality—as cut-off thresholds, and the top 10 key genes were further identified using the cytoHubba plugin. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted via the DAVID database, and the results were visualized on the CNSknowall platform. Lastly, molecular docking of the core targets was performed using the CB-DOCK2 platform to validate binding affinity. Results: Based on an integrated analysis of network toxicology, network pharmacology, and molecular docking, 10 key targets were systematically identified. These may serve as potential mediators of cinnamaldehyde in the treatment of OTA-induced T2DM-NAFLD comorbidity. Among these, six targets—albumin (ALB), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), actin beta (ACTB), and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1)—possess crystal structures amenable to molecular docking. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that CA and OTA jointly participate in key pathological processes such as the cancer pathway, the lipid and atherosclerosis pathway, the advanced glycation end-products–receptor for advanced glycation end-products (AGE-RAGE) signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, and the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway. OTA exacerbates inflammatory responses, impairs insulin signaling, promotes hepatic steatosis, and disrupts systemic metabolic homeostasis, ultimately contributing to T2DM-NAFLD comorbidity. Conversely, cinnamaldehyde counteracts these pathological processes through multiple mechanisms, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, thereby restoring metabolic homeostasis. Conclusions: This study has preliminarily identified the toxicological targets of OTA and the potential intervention targets of CA, offering new avenues for preventing and intervening in OTA-induced metabolic toxicity. Furthermore, it provides a theoretical basis for CA as a potential multi-target therapeutic agent and presents novel insights worthy of further investigation into the prevention of T2DM-NAFLD comorbidity. Full article

This study presents the first integrated multi-compartment assessment linking soil heavy- metal contamination and satellite-derived tropospheric air pollution in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Six metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) were measured in 295 agricultural topsoils using DTPA extraction—which targets the labile, bioavailable pool most relevant to food-chain transfer in calcareous soils—and were compared with Sentinel-5P TROPOMI vertical columns of SO₂, NO₂ and HCHO extracted at point, 1000 m and 5000 m scales. Chromium was the dominant element, and composite pollution indices indicated overall good but transitional soil quality, with a majority of sites at warning level. Principal component analysis, spatial autocorrelation and land-use analysis converged on three plausible source groupings—predominantly geogenic (Cr, Ni), localized anthropogenic (Cd, Pb) and agricultural (Cu)—although, in the absence of isotopic or other direct source tracing, these assignments remain indicative rather than confirmed. Soil metals and atmospheric columns were largely uncorrelated (|r| < 0.3 for 17 of 18 pairs); this decoupling is consistent with the contrasting temporal integration and spatial support of the two compartments rather than with a single shared pathway. Multi-scale analysis supported a parsimonious dual-scale (point + 5000 m) sampling framework. The study offers a transferable assessment framework for other Mediterranean regions and underscores the need for locally calibrated, total-metal soil background values. Because these indices and threshold comparisons are computed from DTPA-extractable concentrations, they serve here as one-directional, bioavailability-based screening tools rather than regulatory determinations: an exceedance conservatively flags a site for confirmatory total-metal analysis, whereas a non-exceedance does not establish compliance. Full article

Aflatoxin contamination of cereal grains represents a serious food safety concern due to the toxic and carcinogenic properties of aflatoxins produced mainly by Aspergillus species. The present study aimed to evaluate the antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) cell-free supernatants as a natural approach for controlling aflatoxin-producing fungi in wheat grains. A total of fifty fungal isolates recovered from agricultural samples were screened for their aflatoxigenic potential using phenotypic and molecular approaches. The toxigenic isolates were identified as Aspergillus flavus (AF) and Aspergillus parasiticus (AP), and their aflatoxigenic potential was confirmed by PCR amplification of aflatoxin biosynthesis-related genes (nor-1 and aflR). The antifungal activity of selected LAB strains was evaluated against the identified Aspergillus isolates using the agar diffusion method. The obtained results demonstrated that LAB cell-free supernatants exhibited significant antifungal activity, with variations among strains. Among the tested LAB strains, Lactobacillus plantarum P3 and Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 20552 showed the highest inhibitory activity against both fungal species. Furthermore, LAB treatments significantly reduced fungal-induced wheat grain damage and decreased aflatoxin accumulation during storage. Application of 100% LAB supernatants resulted in a remarkable reduction in total aflatoxins, reaching more than 99% reduction compared with untreated controls. The inhibitory effect decreased with increasing dilution of the supernatants, indicating a concentration-dependent antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activity. The findings demonstrate that LAB-derived metabolites can effectively suppress the growth of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus species and limit aflatoxin biosynthesis. Therefore, LAB cell-free supernatants represent a promising biological control strategy for improving cereal safety and reducing mycotoxin contamination in food systems. Full article

Cherry tomatoes are highly susceptible to Salmonella contamination during pre- and post-harvest handling, leading to foodborne illness outbreaks and significant economic losses. Edible coatings incorporating natural antimicrobials offer a promising alternative to conventional chemical treatments for enhancing food safety while maintaining produce quality. This study developed and evaluated a pectin-based edible coating enriched with zinc nanohydroxide-thymol nanohybrids (ZnNH-T) for controlling Salmonella contamination and extending shelf-life of cherry tomatoes. ZnNH-T nanohybrids were synthesized via precipitation, followed by thymol intercalation, and characterized by SEM. Four coating formulations were prepared: pectin alone (P), pectin-thymol (PT), pectin-ZnNH (PNH), and pectin-ZnNH-T (PNHT). Antibacterial activity of the four coatings was first screened in vitro by disc diffusion against six S. enterica serovars; three serovars (Typhimurium, Enteritidis, and Montevideo) showing a statistically significant, coating-dependent inhibition response were selected for the postharvest assay. Cherry tomatoes were coated and dip-inoculated with three Salmonella serotypes (Typhimurium, Enteritidis, and Montevideo) at approximately 10⁵ CFU/mL and stored at 25 °C for 12 days. Antimicrobial efficacy, antioxidant activity (ABTS assay), and physicochemical quality parameters (weight loss, color, pH, and total soluble solids) were evaluated. Zinc nanohydroxides were successfully synthesized, as observed in SEM morphology. ABTS radical scavenging activity of filmogenic solutions was highest for PT (92.4%) and moderate for PNHT (65.9%), while P and PNH showed minimal activity (20.1% and 17.8%, respectively). PNHT coating achieved an approximately 2-log CFU/g reduction in Salmonella populations compared to uncoated controls over 12 days of storage, demonstrating sustained antimicrobial efficacy. Coated tomatoes exhibited significantly reduced weight loss (8% for PNHT vs. 13% for control), better color retention, lycopene content, maintained firmness, and stable pH and TSS values compared to uncoated controls. The pectin-ZnNH-T coating system represents a novel multifunctional approach for enhancing cherry tomato safety and quality. The use of thymol from the layered hydroxide structure, combined with zinc ion antimicrobial effects, provides sustained pathogen reduction while maintaining desirable physicochemical properties. This natural, biodegradable coating technology has potential for commercial application in fresh produce preservation. Full article

Potentially toxic element (PTE) contamination of food systems has emerged as an important environmental and public health concern in many developing countries, including Uganda, owing to rapid urbanization, industrialization, mining activities, wastewater reuse, informal waste disposal, and expanding urban agriculture. This review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed and selected grey literature on the occurrence of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in cereals, vegetables, tubers, livestock products, fish, fruits, and processed foods consumed in Uganda. A structured literature synthesis and screening-level dietary risk assessment using estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), carcinogenic risk (CR), and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) were conducted to identify contamination hotspots, priority exposure pathways, and potential public health implications. The available evidence revealed substantial spatial variability, with contamination consistently concentrated in mining-influenced agricultural areas, wastewater-irrigated farms, municipal dumpsites, industrial corridors, and urban food markets. Vegetables, cereals, livestock products, fish, and street-vended foods exhibited the greatest contamination burdens, while Pb and Cd were the PTEs most frequently reported exceeding WHO/FAO, Codex Alimentarius, and Ugandan food safety limits. Screening-level risk estimates indicated that Pb, Cd, and Cr contributed most to cumulative dietary exposure, with children consistently exhibiting higher EDI, THQ, HI, and TCR values than adults because of greater food intake relative to body weight. Although cumulative HI and TCR values exceeded recommended screening thresholds in several hotspot regions, these estimates should be interpreted as conservative screening-level indicators derived from heterogeneous published datasets rather than nationally representative measures of dietary exposure. Overall, the evidence indicates that PTE contamination in Ugandan food systems is predominantly hotspot-driven and highlights the need for targeted surveillance, standardized monitoring and reporting, improved pollution control, and strengthened food safety management to reduce chronic dietary exposure and protect public health. Full article

Burkholderia gladioli pv. cocovenenans (B. gladioli pv. cocovenenans), the most representative pathovar of B. gladioli, is capable of producing thermostable and highly virulent bongkrekic acid, which can result in multiple organ failure and an extremely high case fatality rate in humans. This research aims to mine specific targets for B. gladioli pv. cocovenenans and develop a rapid and accurate assay for the detection of B. gladioli pv. cocovenenans in food. Two novel specific target genes (group_0918 and group_0110) were successfully screened through pan-genome analysis, and the excellent specificity and sensitivity of both targets were verified in comparison to PCR assays. Based on these targets, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method was developed to specifically identify B. gladioli pv. cocovenenans. In pure culture and spiked fresh black fungus samples, the LAMP assay achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.1 × 10¹ CFU/mL and 4.1 × 10² CFU/g for the detection of B. gladioli pv. cocovenenans, respectively. To enable point of care testing, a LAMP-based lateral flow dipstick(LFD) assay was established with a detection sensitivity of 4.1 × 10³ CFU/g in fresh black fungus. Tests on naturally infected food samples demonstrated that the developed LAMP and LAMP-assisted visual detection assays can serve as an effective alternative for the accurate identification of B. gladioli pv. cocovenenans. The novel molecular detection technology established in this study offers an efficient and reliable detection method for the prevention and control of B. gladioli pv. cocovenenans contamination in food, which holds significant application value and promotion prospects. Full article

Food products containing plant ingredients are particularly vulnerable to economically motivated adulteration (EMA), which poses risks to consumer trust and regulatory compliance. While traditional methods—such as microscopy, chemical profiling or targeted PCR—struggle to detect adulterants in processed food products or complex mixes, DNA metabarcoding offers a non-targeted, high-throughput alternative. This study presents a nanopore sequencing-based technique that is easy to implement, cost-effective and sufficiently sensitive to detect substitutions, with a focus on spices and herbal teas as model matrices. The method was evaluated using eight single-species reference samples and five commercial multi-ingredient products. It reliably detected undeclared contaminants (e.g., mint in oregano) and species substitutions. Compared to single-barcode approaches, the combination of ITS2 + matK + trnH-psbA markers achieved higher sensitivity. The proposed workflow requires minimal infrastructure and a 2–4-day turnaround time. However, factors such as DNA degradation in highly processed foods, database gaps, and biological diversity limited detection in some cases. These findings demonstrate the workflow’s potential as a first-line screening tool for food authenticity testing, aligning with requirements such as EU regulation 1169/2011 on food labelling or the FDA’s Economically Motivated Adulteration (EMA) program. Future work should validate the method against regulatory thresholds and expand testing to a broader variety of species and matrices. Full article

Pesticide and veterinary drug residues, heavy metals and other hazardous contaminants in agricultural products and food systems pose severe threats to food safety and agro-ecological security. Conventional detection techniques are plagued by complicated operations, long testing cycles and insufficient sensitivity, which fail to meet the practical requirements for rapid, accurate on-site detection and in situ remediation. This paper systematically introduces the fundamental physicochemical properties of typical carbon-based nanomaterials, including graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon quantum dots and biomass-derived carbon. It comprehensively reviews the latest research advances of these materials in the detection of heavy metal ions, pesticide residues, mycotoxins and illegal additives, as well as in the non-destructive monitoring of food quality. Meanwhile, relevant applications of carbon-based nanomaterials in the adsorption, enrichment and catalytic remediation of heavy metals and organic pollutants in farmland soil and water environments are summarized. The intrinsic mechanisms underlying their performance in high-precision detection and environmental remediation are elaborated from the perspectives of optical sensing response and adsorption–separation effects. Furthermore, the current technical limitations and bottlenecks restricting the practical application of carbon-based nanomaterials are discussed. Combined with the industrial demands for rapid screening of agro-food safety risks and in situ treatment of farmland environments, the future development prospects of carbon-based nanomaterials in agriculture and food safety fields are outlined. This work aims to provide theoretical references for the development and industrialization of high-performance carbon-based sensing and remediation materials, and to facilitate the risk prevention and control of agro-food safety as well as the green and sustainable development of agricultural ecosystems. Full article

Background: Fish and seafood products may act as vehicles for the dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria through the food chain. Particular concern is associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). This study evaluated the occurrence of S. aureus, Enterococcus spp., and presumptive MRSA and VRE in retail fish and seafood products using culture-based screening methods. Methods: A total of 99 fish and seafood samples purchased from retail outlets in northern Poland were analyzed using selective microbiological culture methods. Presumptive MRSA and VRE were screened on chromogenic selective media. Differences between product categories were assessed using non-parametric statistical tests and chi-square analysis. Results: S. aureus was detected in 80.8% of samples, with significantly higher contamination levels in seafood than in fish (p = 0.002). Presumptive MRSA isolates were detected in 27.3% of samples. Enterococcus spp. were found in 49.5% of samples, with significantly higher prevalence and counts in unpackaged products (p < 0.05). Presumptive VRE isolates occurred in 17.2% of samples, while simultaneous occurrence of presumptive MRSA and VRE was observed in 9.1% of samples. Conclusions: Retail fish and seafood products may constitute a reservoir of presumptive antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. The higher contamination of unpackaged products highlights the importance of hygienic handling practices. Molecular confirmation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing are needed to further assess the public health significance of these microorganisms. Full article

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) contamination in maize poses serious risks to food and feed safety; however, conventional laboratory-based assays are often constrained by time and throughput for large-scale screening. This study proposes a hyperspectral imaging (HSI) workflow for rapid, non-destructive prediction of AFB₁. A total of 236 hyperspectral images were acquired in the 400–1000 nm range (256 bands) from maize samples covering a broad gradient of AFB₁ contamination, and spectral features were extracted from regions of interest (ROI) for model development. The results demonstrate that appropriate spectral preprocessing and wavelength selection play a critical role in improving model robustness, with the SNV–CARS–KNN model achieving the best prediction performance (test R² = 0.9341, RMSE = 4.8938). Based on the predicted AFB₁ values, contamination grading was further explored to enable rapid screening and risk management in agricultural applications. Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) contamination in maize poses substantial risks to food and feed safety, creating a need for rapid screening tools that can support high-throughput prescreening. In this study, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was explored as a non-destructive approach for the preliminary assessment of AFB₁ contamination in maize kernels. A total of 236 hyperspectral images were collected in the 400–1000 nm range, and region-of-interest spectra were extracted for model development. Spectral preprocessing and wavelength selection strategies were compared in combination with several conventional regression models to examine their influence on predictive performance using the current dataset. Among the tested combinations, the SNV–CARS–KNN model showed the most favorable performance on the held-out test set (R² = 0.9341; RMSE = 4.8938). In addition, a grade-based classification derived from predicted values was explored as an application-oriented extension for rapid risk sorting. However, the study was conducted on artificially contaminated samples and relied on rapid-test-derived reference values, so the findings should be interpreted as a proof of concept rather than a fully validated quantitative method. Overall, the results support the potential of HSI for rapid prescreening of AFB₁ in maize and provide a basis for further validation using more rigorous reference analysis and independent sample sets. Full article