1. Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by filamentous fungi under certain environmental conditions that can contaminate foods like cereals, fruits, and vegetables.
2. Major mycotoxins include aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, and patulin. Aflatoxins are produced by Aspergillus species and are carcinogenic, while ochratoxins and fumonisins can cause liver and kidney damage.
3. Mycotoxins are detected using extraction and clean-up methods followed by analytical techniques like chromatography, immunoassays, and PCR to identify mycotoxin-producing fungi. Detection methods help ensure food and feed