Detoxification of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed by microorganisms

Different physical and chemical methods have been recommended for detoxific ation of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed. Nevertheless, only a few of them (e.g. destruction of aflatoxin by ammonia treatment) have been accepte d for practical use. Many specialists are of the opinion that the best appr oach for decontamination should be degradation by selected microorganisms, giving a possibility of removal of mycotoxins under mild conditions, withou t using harmful chemicals and without significant losses in nutritive value and the palatibility of detoxified food or feed. The present state of rese arch in this field and the perspectives of such procedures are reviewed. (C ) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.