Mycotoxins and Food: Fusaproliferin Occurrence and Risk

Mycotoxins (MT) can be produced by some microfungi and are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other animals. The secondary metabolites produced by moulds can contaminate different agricultural commodities. The most important MT derived secondary metabolites associated with human and veterinary diseases, include aflatoxin, citrinin, ergot akaloids, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, patulin, trichothecenes, zearalenone, and fusariotoxins. Fusaproliferin (FP), can be produced in appropriate environmental conditions by the filamentous fungi belonging to the genus Fusarium spp., and is mainly a contaminant of grains, e.g., wheat, barley, maize, rice. The processing of these commodities does not affect the presence of this contaminant, and for this reason it might be of concern for the food safety. The damage caused by moulds and the hazard of consuming damaged grains have been in fact recognized since historical times. The possibility of human diseases occurring as a result of the consumption of mould-damaged rice and wheat has been raised in many Countries. FP and its presence in cereals and foodstuff represent a threat and risk assessment is needed since this mycotoxin could pose a potential risk for human health.