Protecting pets from the threat of mycotoxins

Pet food companies worldwide are constantly working towards improving and maximising the quality of their product. Due to the risk mycotoxins pose for animal health and with the increasing prevalence of mycotoxins globally, the focus is on pet food companies to meet EU and FDA regulations and maximise the quality of their product.

What are mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring metabolites that are produced by certain moulds, possessing the ability to develop and grow on a variety of crops they can affect large amounts of feed and increasingly, pet food. If a sample tests positive even for low levels of contamination the toxins are still strong enough to cause illness in animals, and if low levels are consumed over a long period of time this can result in chronic illnesses including; cancer, organ damage and neurological disorders. The main mycotoxins of concern in pet food are; Deoxynivalenol (DON) Fumonisins (FUM) Zearalenone (ZEN) Aflatoxins Ochratoxin T-2 Toxin Contamination can occur in any country around the world and at any stage of production. To tackle the issue head on and work towards a mycotoxin free product is the joint responsibility of feed producers, supply chain partners and quality control laboratories ensuring the complete safety of the product.

Symptoms of ingesting mycotoxins

In terms of animal health, mycotoxins can cause a variety of problems. Severity and symptoms can vary from animal to animal but general symptoms include; hyperactivity, vomiting, high temperature and loss of coordination. If ingestion is suspected a pet has to be taken to the vet for immediate treatment. The EU currently regulates all the mycotoxins listed above and they are subject to a maximum or recommended residue limits. In the US, FDA regulations are limited to aflatoxins, DON and fumonisins (see the table for FDA regulations). If mycotoxin levels in feed fail to meet FDA standards, mass amounts of feed have to be destroyed as grain producers are prohibited from mixing contaminated feed with clean feed to reduce the mycotoxin levels.

Tackling the problem

Safe, reliable screening solutions for different variations of mycotoxins are available, ensuring only mycotoxin free feed is produced. Randox Food Diagnostics has created mycotoxin screening platforms as a response to increased levels of mycotoxins being found in feed globally. The platforms use patented Biochip Array Technology (BAT) so pet food producers can test for multiple toxins from a single sample. Randox Food Diagnostics has a range of mycotoxin Biochip Arrays available with customised arrays available to suit the specific screening needs of certain producers. Each Biochip format uses a straightforward extraction process with a 50µl sample of feed. Available tests include; Fumonisins, Ochratoxin A, Aflatoxin G1/G2, Aflatoxin B1, Paxiline, Ergot Alkaloids, Diacetoxyscirpenol, Deoxynivalenol, T2 Toxin and Zearalenone.