Mycotoxin in the food supply chain—implications for public health program

ABSTRACT

Mycotoxins are a group of naturally occurring toxic chemical substances, produced mainly by microscopic filamentous fungal species. Regarding potential synergisms or even mitigating effects between toxic elements, mycotoxin contamination will continue to be an area of concern for producers, manufacturers, regulatory agencies, researchers, and consumers in the future. In Serbia, recent drought and then flooding confirmed that mycotoxins are one of the foodborne hazards most susceptible to climate change. In this article, we review key aspects of mycotoxin contamination of the food supply chain and implications for public health from the Serbian perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate changes
• food chain
• mycotoxin
• public health

Funding

This study was supported by the projects no. TR 31008, funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.