Mycotoxin Risk Management
Our goal is to mitigate and, ultimately, eradicate harmful mycotoxins. We work with strategic partners to generate new knowledge, build capability and develop training, and practical solutions which can be applied to help mitigate risk at vulnerable points in the food supply chain.
Our Approach
We are committed to generating new knowledge, building capability and collaborating with strategic partners to develop expertise, training and practical solutions which can be applied to vulnerable points in the supply chain, where they will have the biggest impact.
Mycotoxins are toxic compounds naturally produced by certain types of molds (fungi). They can grow on widely used foodstuffs such as maize, wheat and peanuts, as well as eggs and milk if consumed by animals.
Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins that pose the most serious threat to human and animal health. Each year around 4.5 billion people are exposed to these deadly toxins, which are known to contaminate around 25 percent of the world crop area. The health impacts are devastating, as well as stunting, damage to the immune system, and maternal anaemia, they are estimated to play a part in 28 per cent of liver cancers globally.
Our goal is to determine the source of aflatoxin contamination, develop robust detection methods and early intervention mechanisms, as part of our commitment to ensure safe food for all.
Aflatoxins can cause birth defects in babies and have been linked to stunting in children.
According to food safety experts, those most affected by aflatoxins are populations that can least afford to be sick, such as low and middle-income countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Scientific evidence suggests aflatoxins could become more prevalent in mature economies as a result of climate change. In developed economies, when aflatoxin levels are found to be above legal limits, food is disposed of, leading to huge amounts of waste.
Featured Mycotoxin Stories
Read more about our latest research, interviews, presentations and upcoming events.
Collaborating to Tackle Aflatoxins across the Supply Chain
Prof. Chris Elliott presents the first insights from the Food Safety Coalition at the World Mycotoxin Forum 2022.
The Domino Effect of Food Safety Risk Analysis and Communication Infrastructure
Meet Kiran Bhardwaj, Student Intern / Research Support at Queen’s University Belfast, as she discusses her role in the Food Safety Coalition and why researching Aflatoxins
Featured Mycotoxin Publications
TThe Mars Global Food Safety Center conducts collaborative, original research using cutting edge approaches which are shared through scientific publications and forums. Read our latest publication offering here.
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