World Mycotoxin Survey Blog

Increasing Mycotoxin Prevalence – A Rising Threat to Food Safety

How Efficient Mycotoxin Analysis Helps Safeguard Quality and Brand Trust

The latest data from the World Mycotoxin Survey 2024 by DSM-Firmenich indicate increasing importance of necessary countermeasures: the global prevalence of mycotoxins in food and feed continues to rise. This trend affects both consumer health and the economic stability of feed producers and traders. (DSM-Firmenich World Mycotoxin Survey January to December 2024)

Mycotoxins Are on the Rise Worldwide

The survey results show significant increases in contamination levels in North America (16%), Central America (29%), and South America (35%). Among the most critical findings is the growing presence of Aflatoxins, Deoxynivalenol (DON), and Zearalenone (ZEN) across major agricultural commodities like corn, peanuts, pistachios, and almonds. The dramatic outcome is not only economical loss but potential exposure as known from alfatoxins, which is documented by other mycotoxins, e.g. ochratoxin A, as well.

The European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) also reported an alarming number of notifications for aflatoxin contamination in food products between January and December 2024. This development underscores the increasing regulatory scrutiny and the potential reputational risks for feed and food producers and suppliers. (DSM-Firmenich World Mycotoxin Survey January to December 2024)

What's At Risk for Food Manufacturers and Brands?

The presence of mycotoxins above permissible limits directly impacts product safety and quality. For food and feed producers, this means:

• Increased risk of product recalls
• Potential loss of consumer trust
• Financial damages due to rejected shipments and wasted production
• Stricter regulatory controls leading to higher testing frequencies

For brands operating globally, particularly those trading of high-risk commodities, maintaining compliance with international safety standards is more challenging than ever.

To manage these risks effectively, robust and efficient testing strategies are essential. This includes not only ensuring compliance but also proactively safeguarding brand reputation and customer loyalty.

LCTech Solutions for Fast and Reliable Mycotoxin Testing

At LCTech, we offer advanced tools to streamline and accelerate mycotoxin analysis in food and feed. Our SMART Clean-up Columns are specifically designed to support high-throughput laboratories and in-house testing facilities in the food and feed producing industry:

• AflaCLEAN SMART and OtaCLEAN SMART deliver fast, precise clean-up for the most regulated mycotoxins—Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A—in a variety of matrices.
• CrossTOX, our multi-toxin clean-up column, allows simultaneous analysis of multiple mycotoxins. It covers the most relevant substances and significantly reduces time and labor. It’s an ideal choice for comprehensive testing in both food and feed analysis by LC-MS/MS.

By integrating these solutions, laboratories and food or feed producers can ensure:

• Fast and simple sample preparation
• Reliable results
• Compliance with strict regulatory requirements
• Minimized economic risk due to contamination

Be Proactive – Protect Your Product and Your Brand

The increased prevalence of mycotoxins is a global challenge that requires immediate attention. LCTech’s innovative solutions help food producers and laboratories stay ahead by ensuring safety, maintaining quality, and protecting consumers. Quality in mycotoxin testing makes your product more trustful, reliable in performance, nutrition value and due to low mycotoxin more efficient for customer.

🔎 Want to learn more about how we can support your mycotoxin analysis?

Contact our team today or explore our solutions here.