ABSTRACT

Mycotoxin contamination of agricultural commodities is practically unavoidable due to uncontrollable environmental conditions; however, the mycotoxin content of foods and feeds can be managed. Efforts to minimize mycotoxins include

monitoring, managing, and controlling quality of product from the farm to the marketplace, establishing regulatory limits or guidelines, utilizing decontamina­ tion procedures, and implementing strategies to divert contaminated grains to feed and other industrial uses. Surveillance programs in agricultural products are necessary to reduce the risk of mycotoxin consumption by humans and animals. Chemical and immunological assays, which can routinely be used to rapidly analyze large numbers of samples, are needed in all monitoring programs. The data obtained from monitoring efforts should be useful in determining and reduc­ ing the risk of animal and human exposure.