Global mycotoxin threat by the numbers

Biomin recently released the findings of its 2015 Mycotoxin Survey. The survey analyzed more than 8,000 samples from 75 countries. Here are some of the key numbers from the report:

• 8,271 samples from 75 countries
   
• 6 main agriculturally-relevant mycotoxin groups: aflatoxin (Afla), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin, fumonisin B1 (FB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA)
   
• 77 percent of samples from Europe were contaminated with DON
   
• 55 percent of samples from Asia were contaminated with ZEN
   
• 67 percent of samples from North America were contaminated with DON
   
• 70 percent of samples from South America were contaminated with FUM
   
• 31 mycotoxins and metabolites found per sample on average
   
• 9 out of 10 samples were contaminated with Fusarium toxins, Penicillium toxins, or both
   
• 96 percent of samples contained 10 or more mycotoxins and metabolites