M. Denijs et al., IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS FUSARIUM SECONDARY METABOLITES OCCURRING IN FOOD RAW-MATERIALS, Journal of food safety, 17(3), 1997, pp. 161-191
Hazardous secondary metabolites produced by Fusarium molds were identi
fied in the first step of a risk assessment procedure, the hazard iden
tification These mycotoxins are excreted, often simultaneously, by the
fungus into plant tissue. A literature survey revealed the occurrence
of 61 Fusarium species in agricultural produce (cereals, vegetables,
fruits) of which 35 species were reported to produce a total of 137 se
condary metabolites in laboratory experiments. This literature review
shows that 41 (30%) of these secondary metabolites have been tested an
d found toxic in various assays and should be considered hazardous if
present in food. Six of these were reported to be related to human int
oxications. Four metabolites belonged to the trichothecenes (T-2 toxin
, nivalenol, deoxynivalenol and acetyldeoxynivalenol), the others were
zearalenone and fumonisin B-1. Twelve metabolites, including the prev
iously mentioned six, were reported to have been tested in feeding tri
als using vertebrates. These twelve secondary metabolites should be re
garded as most important and need to be evaluated in each risk assessm
ent procedure for mycotoxins in food commodities.