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Digital Re-print - July | August 2009Feature: Mycotoxins

Feature title: Growing concerns over mycotoxins

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Grain & Feed Milling Technology is published six times a year by Perendale Publishers Ltd of the United Kingdom.All data is published in good faith, based on information received, and while every care is taken to prevent inaccuracies,

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8/14/2019 Growing concerns over mycotoxins

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No one involved in thegrain chain wants to seeanother season like 2008,

when levels of mycotoxins inwheat made trading conditionsdifficult to say the least. Sowhat can be done to prevent areoccurrence? Lucy de la Pastureof Pinstone CommunicationsLtd in the UK finds out moreon this subject for GFMT

The quality of the British wheat crop is

always subject to the vagaries of our climate,

something that cant be predicted and most

often causes problems with lodging, giving rise

to low specific weights and poor Hagbergs.

Last season very wet growing and harvest

conditions led to extensive early lodging, high

disease levels and a protracted harvest allfactors which made 2008 break all records

for exceeding EU limits for mycotoxins,

deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone

(ZON) in raw grain.

So why do mycotoxins occur and what

can growers do to reduce the risk of them

occurring and make sure grain is fit for

human consumption?

Mycotoxins are produced by several

species of Fusarium fungi, explains Dr

Simon Edwards, fusarium specialist at Harper

Adams University College.

This year risk of fusarium is currently

moderate to high, depending on rainfall inthe area where crops are being grown, says

Dr Edwards.

There is a lot of inoculum as a result of high

levels of fusarium head blight (FHB) last year.

Rainfall and timing dependentThe level of mycotoxins is highly depen-

dent on rainfall over flowering and during

ripening. Many areas have had

rainfall over flowering this season,

but this has been very variable.

Much of the wheat crop had

finished flowering before recent

rainfall on the south coast, whilst

late drilled wheat in Lincolnshire

and Yorkshire was just starting to

flower so was more vulnerable to

fusarium infection, comments Dr

Edwards.The west and the Midlands

has also had plenty of rain over

the flowering period and generally

the east of the country has had

much less.

Timing of rainfall is important

because as well as dictating the

amount of fusarium infection likely in

crops, it also influences the type of

mycotoxin produced. DON myco-

toxin is produced from fusarium

infection during the flowering period,

so rainfall at this timing may mean

higher risk of DON occurring.

Growing concerns over

mycotoxins

by Lucy de la Pasture, Pinstone Communications Ltd

Grain&feed millinG technoloGy12 | Ju-augus 2009

FeatureMycotoxins

Wheat growers use a risk assessment

tool, developed by the Home-Grown

Cereals Authority (HGCA), which enables

them to make an entry on the grain passport

that accompanies each load on sale and

identify loads at risk and in need of furthertesting.

Last season the system seriously broke

down and the passports failed to adequately

give grain buyers an indication of mycotoxin

risk.

Dr Edwards, explaining why this hap-

pened, says, The HGCA risk assessment

was based on data from 2001 to 2007 and

during this time average rainfall in the pre-

harvest period was 20mm.

Last year actual rainfall was in the region

of 100mm, with a substantial delay to harvest

because of the wet weather in August and

September - none of this was factored in

the model!

So can grain millers and processors have

confidence in the risk assessment system in

place after last season?

The HGCA have taken urgent action toaddress the issue.

This season the risk assessment has been

revised to take these factors in to account

and enable growers to identify fields at par-

ticular risk which may then require testing,

reassures Dr Edwards.

As well as rainfall, the risk assessment

scores other factors such as region, previous

crop, cultivation, variety and T3 fungicide.

Reducing riskGrowers can reduce much of the risk

of mycotoxins by taking measures before a

crop is planted.

Crop debris is an important source of

inoculum and burying this by ploughing will

reduce risk, explains Dr Edwards.

Conversely, fields which have had mini-

mal cultivations

or are direct-drilled will be

at higher risk

of developing

fusarium and the

mycotoxins they

produce.

Late planted

wheat follow-

ing potatoes

and maize, a

known source

of inoculum, are

also factors that

increase risk. A

large percentage

of the national

wheat crop was

planted late in

2008 as a resultof the protracted

harvest another

contributory fac-

tor to the high

levels of inoculum

currently being

found in some

crops.

On a practi-

cal level, once a

crop is planted

the only mea-

sures grow-

ers can take to

reduce the risk of FHB occurring is to apply

a fungicide programme using products with

some fusarium activity and culminating in a

robust T3 (or earwash) treatment.

Grain&feed millinG technoloGy Ju-augus 2009 | 13

Feature Mycotoxins

Making the Worlds Food Safer

Reduce yourmycotoxin risk

Romer Labs DiagnosticGmbH - Europe, Austria

Tel: +43 2272 615331-0, Fax: +43 2272 615331-11

e-Mail: ofce-europe@romerlabs.com

distributed in the UK by: QuadraChem Laboratories Ltd.

Tel: 01342 820820, Fax: 01342 820825, E-Mail: enquiries@qclscientic.com

or by letting your

samples be tested in

one of our accredited

laboratories around

the globe.

www.quantas-analytics.com

by checking your

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fast and convenient

rapid test kits

www.romerlabs.com

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8/14/2019 Growing concerns over mycotoxins

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Procam agronomist Tom Scotson

explains that whereas T3 decisions used to

be a top-up for septoria and rust control,

things have definitely changed.

Concerns with DON levels in milling

wheat and breakfast cereals, means we must

have a planned strategy to control fusarium,

says Mr Scotson.

Mycotoxins are a matter growers are

now taking very seriously.

The T3 spray is no longer a case of

using up whatever fungicides are left in thespray store!

Useful additions to the armouryWith fungicide options limited for myco-

toxin reduction, Mr Scotson describes thio-

phanate-methyl as a useful addition to the

armoury this season, especially important

because it has a different mode of action to

prothioconazole, the industry standard for

control of FHB.

Even when every possible measure has

been taken to reduce risk sometimes the

weather has the last word! Rainfall later in

the season increases risk of ZON produc-

tion. And this was seen clearly last year

when ZON proved to be a real problem

for the first time and 29 percent of samples

exceeded the 100 ppb EU limit.

Any delay in harvest has an impact onZON levels and after last seasons protracted

harvest, more samples exceeded the EU

limit for ZON than the limit for DON myco-

toxins (1250 ppb), explains Dr Edwards.

Many high ZON samples dont make

milling specification as they tend to have

low Hagbergs and specific weights and are

therefore effectively screened out and less

of an issue at mill intake.

But this isnt always the case, as suppliers

to breakfast cereal manufacturers found out

last season when initially load after load was

rejected.

Mycotoxins are found mostly in the bran

and, because this is the main fibre source in

breakfast cereals, bran is an essential ingredi-

ent! As grain is dried during processing to

approximately five percent moisture con-

tent the mycotoxins become concentrated,meaning raw grain at intake needs to be well

below the limits already set.

And to further compound matters, the

limits for mycotoxins tighten as you move

further down the food chain. Where the

limit for DON in raw wheat is 1250 ppb,

for breakfast cereals the limit is just 500 ppb.

Faced with a problem that becomes worse

during processing and the implications of a

product recall, breakfast cereal manufactur-

ers were the first to introduce rapid testing

for DON in November 2008.

Once we had the DON situation under

control, we identified issues with ZON for

Not all fungicides controlTo complicate matters not all fungicides

will control true Fusarium spp.

Azoxystrobin from the strobilurin group

of fungicides, is renowned for keeping wheat

ears golden and bright but only controlsMicrodochium spp. and not Fusarium spp.

To cover all the bases, T3 mixes must

contain triazoles or new approval Topsin

WG (thiophanate-methyl) to reduce the risk

of mycotoxins. And of the available active

ingredients only those containing prothio-

conazole, bromuconazole and thiophanate-

methyl go as far as claiming mycotoxin

reduction on the label.

Getting timing of T3 fungicides right is

crucial for maximum control of fusarium,

with best results achieved in the early flower-

ing period from the onset of flowering to

50 percent anthesis (GS61-65).

FHB is caused by several species of

Fusarium that affect wheat and Microdochium

spp. but only the true Fusarium spp. produce

mycotoxins. In the UK this means that

the presence of FHB in a crop does not

necessarily indicate a risk from mycotoxins,

whether theyll be produced depends on the

fungal species causing the infection.

One of the problems with fusarium

control is that it is not a disease that is vis-

ible when treatment needs to be applied,

symptoms of head blight dont show until the

wheat begins to ripen.

Crop Monitor is a system that provides

growers with real-time information about

the levels of fusarium infection and the

species of fungi which have been isolated

from samples in their growing region - useful

information for getting a feel for the season

and influencing spray decisions.

The limits for

mycotoxins tighten as

you move further down

the food chain. Where

the limit for DON inraw wheat is 1250 ppb,

for breakfast cereals the

limit is just 500 ppb

Grain&feed millinG technoloGy14 | Ju-augus 2009

FeatureMycotoxins

for grain producers, the costs associated

with load rejections is much higher.

One of the problems with mycotoxins

is that they dont occur in a homogenous

way, one load can be high and another

low, yet they come from the same field.

Sampling is an area being closely looked

at by The Mycotoxin Stakeholder Group,

a cross-industry informal body who are

working to find a better sampling regime

than the HGCA and the official EU tech-

niques currently used.Sampling remains an area of concern

from the growers perspective, explains

Simon Christensen, Frontiers head of

wheat trading.

They need to be confident that the tests

carried out at intake are accurate and that

the wheat imported also follows the same

requirements from a testing and sampling

regime to ensure a level playing field exists

with foreign counterparts. But the message

about the importance of mycotoxins has

been understood by farmers.

In all likelihood, 2009 harvest is not

likely to be as bad as last season but the

potential remains for mycotoxin prob-

lems to occur but hopefully this season

the industry is one step ahead!

the first time, explains Weetabixs Keith

Turnbull.

ZON appeared late and was a problem

in raw material supply but now testing is in

place for this as well.

Rapid testingSo is rapid testing here to stay? At least

until the true picture for harvest 2009 has

been established, believes Mr Turnbull.

Now the industry is set to manage an

exceptionally bad season for mycotoxins.The whole grain chain has the opportunity

to learn from it, make British farming as safe

as possible, manage the risk in t he crop and

come out stronger than before.

And Martin Savage, Trade Policy Manager

for the National Association of British and

Irish Millers, agrees rapid testing needs to

stay in place for at least the first six weeks

after harvest.

Food safety is paramount and the trade

need reassurance that the revised risk assess-

ment is working and that growers are com-

pleting the passports diligently. The introduc-

tion of the mycotoxin legislation has made

growers legally responsible for food safety on

raw wheat for the first time, he adds.

Although rapid testing is an unwanted cost

Grain&feed millinG technoloGy Ju-augus 2009 | 15

Feature Mycotoxins

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Asubscriptionmagazine for the global flour &feedmillingindustries-first publishedin1891

August 2009

Growingconcerns overmycotoxins

Enzymes inbreadmaking:Economic relevance,markets,and futureperspectives

In this issue:

V acuumpla ysanimportantrolein

deliveringmicro-ingredients

tolivestock

A re y ou r ea dyfor newcrop?

F OC US :E ur op e

Flouradeliverysystem

for vitaminsandmineralsreceivesWHO

endorsement

Preservingfeedmaterialsafter harvesta multifaceted

approach tomycotoxins

GFMT0904.indd 1 9/07/ 009 15:48

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INFORMATIONFORADVERTISERS-CLICKHERE

forgrainproducers, thecosts associated

withloadrejectionsismuch higher.

neofthe problemswithmycotoxins

isthattheyd ontoccurina homogenous

wa y , o ne l o adc a nbe hi g ha nda no ther

l o w, y et t hey c o m efro m t hesa mef i e l d.

Samplingisan areabeing closelylooked

atbyThe ycotoxinStakeholderGroup,

across-industryinformal bodywho are

workingtofind abetter samplingregime

t ha nt heHGC a ndt heo f f i ci a l EUt ec h-

niquescurrentlyused.

Sampling remainsanarea ofconcern

fromthe growersperspective, explains

SimonChristensen, Frontiershead of

wheat trading.

Theyneedtobeconfidentthatthetests

carriedoutatintakeare accurateandthat

thewheatimportedalsofollowsthe same

requirementsfroma testingandsampling

regimetoensurea levelplayingfieldexists

withforeigncounterparts.Butthemessage

aboutthe importanceofmycotoxinshas

beenunderstoodbyfarmers.

Inall likelihood, 2009 harvest isnot

likely to beasbad aslast seasonbut the

potentialremains formycotoxin prob-

lemsto occur but hopefully thisseason

theindustry isonestep ahead!

t he f i r s t t i m e ,expl a i ns eet a bi x sK e i t h

Turnbull.

a ppea red l a t ea nd wa sa pro blem

inraw materialsupply but nowtesting isin

placeforthis aswell.

i t t inSo israpid testing hereto stay?t least

untilthe truepicture forharvest 2009 has

beenestablished, believes rTurnbull.

o wt he i ndus t ry i s set t o m a na g ea n

exceptionally bad seasonfor mycotoxins.

Thewho l eg r a inc ha i nha s t heo ppo r t uni t y

to learnfromit, makeBritishfarming assafe

aspossible, managetherisk inthecrop and

comeout strongerthanbefore.

nd artinSavage, TradePolicy anager

fo r t he a t i ona l s so c ia t i o no fB r i ti sha nd

Irish illers, agreesrapid testing needs to

stay inplaceforat least thefirst sixweeks

afterharvest.

Food safety isparamount and thetrade

need reassurancethat therevised risk assess-

ment isworking and that growersarecom-

pleting thepassportsdiligently. Theintroduc-

tionof themycotoxinlegislation hasmade

growerslegally responsibleforfood safety on

rawwheat forthefirst time,headds.

lthoughrapidtestingisan unwantedcost

Gri n f e e d i lli nG t ec h nlGy Ju-ugus2009 | 15

Fe t u e c in

Flour Milling TrainingSeven Steps to Success

Hygiene,HealthandSafety

Wheatandthe Screenroom

MillProcessesand Performance

ProductHandling,StorageandDistribution

Flour

PowerandAutomation

FlourMillingManagement

Course Fees

Thecostper moduleis:295

(asat 2009VATat 15%whereapplicable)

includespostage,textbookandexam registration

nabim Members:Discount95permodule(200)

Non-UKCompanies:Discount50permodule(245)

7ModularCoursesprovide millerswithan essentialunderstandingand

underpinningknowledgeofthemillingindustry.

Anindispensabletoolfor thosenewto themillingindustryandfor

developingtheskillsof thecompetentmiller.

Dedicatedtutorsupportgiven toeverystudent, providingprofessional

guidancethroughoutthecourse year.

21ArlingtonStreetLondonSW1A1RN,UK

Tel:+44(0)20 74932521Fax:+44(0)20 74936785email:info@nabim.org.uk

Enhanceyour

careerprospects

andincrease

potential

Internationally

recognised

distancelearning

programme

Developed

formillers

byindustry

professionals

Studiedevery

yearbyhundreds

ofmillers

worldwide

GFMT0904.indd 15 9/07/ 009 15:49

Visitnabimonline

Emailnabim

growersuse a risk assessmenteloped by the Home-Grownuthority (HGC), whichenablesakeanentry onthegrainpassport

mpanieseach load onsale andadsat risk and inneed offurther

asonthe systemseriously brokehepassportsfailed to adequately

buyersanindicationofmycotoxin

wards, explaining why thishap-ys, TheHGC risk assessmentondata from2001 to 2007 and

stimeaverage rainfallinthe pre-riod was20mm.earactualrainfallwasintheregion, witha substantialdelay to harvest thewet weatherin ugust and

r- none ofth i swasfactore d i nl!grainmillersand processorshave

einthe risk assessment systeminrlast season?GC havetakenurgent actiontoeissue.easontherisk assessment hasbeentakethesefactorsin to account

egrowersto identify fieldsat par-whichmay thenrequiretesting,rEdwards.

llas rainfall, therisk assessmenterfactorssuchas region, previousvation, variety and T3 fungicide.

rirscan re duce muchof the ri skxinsby taking measuresbeforeanted.

Crop debrisis animportant sourceofinoculumand burying thisby ploughing willreducerisk,explainsr Edwards.

Conversely, fieldswhichhave had mini-

mal cultivationsor are direct-drilled will beat higher riskof developingfusariumand themycotoxinstheyproduce.

Lateplantedwheat follow-ing potatoesand maize, aknown sourceofinoculum,arealsofactors thatincreaserisk.largepercentageofthe nat ionalwheatcropwasp l ante d l ate i n2008asa re sul toftheprotractedharvestanothercontributory fac-

tortothe h i ghlevelsofinoculumcurrently beingfound in somecrops.

na practi-callevel, onceacrop is planted

the only mea-sures grow-e rscan take to

reducetherisk ofFHBoccurring isto apply

a fungicideprogrammeusing productswithsomefusariumactivity and culminating inarobust T3 (or earwash)treatment.

e e d i lli nG t e ch nl Gy Ju-ugus2009 | 13

e c in

Making the Worlds Food Safer

Reduce yourmycotoxin risk

RomerLabs Diagnostic GmbH-Europe,AustriaTel:+43 2272 615331-0,Fax:+43 2272 615331-11

e-Mail:ofce-europe@romerlabs.com

distributedin the UKby: QuadraChemLaboratoriesLtd.

Tel:01342820820,Fax:01342820825,E-Mail:enquiries@qclscientic.com

or by lettingyour

samplesbe testedin

one of our accredited

laboratoriesaround

the globe.

www.quantas-analytics.com

by checkingyour

sample with our

fastandconvenient

rapidtestkits

www.romerlabs.com

A d _G r ai n &F e ed M i ll i n g_ G MI _ 7 _0 9 .i n d d 1 1 7 . 07 . 0 0 9 1 : 1 4 :3 3 U h r

9/07/009 15:49

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