Occurrence of Zearalenone and Ochratoxin A in Cereals and Cereal Based Products

Abstract

The contamination of cereals with toxic secondary metabolites of fungi, mycotoxins, is a permanent challenge in human health. These toxins are produced by a few fungi are mainly of the genera Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Ochratoxin A is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin, which possesses carcinogenic, teratogenic, immunotoxic and possibly neurotoxic properties. Zearalenone is a non-steroidal estrogenic toxin, which has been involved in incidents of precocious pubertal changes. In this study, we reviewed recent researches in zearalenone and ochratoxin A contamination in cereals and cereal based products.