Comprehensive Testing of Mycotoxins & Aflatoxins for Safety and Quality

Mycotoxins are deadly. They come from fungi and can be fatal for humans and animals. Mycotoxin is made up of two words: “mykes” from Greek and “toxicum” from Latin, which means fungus and poison, respectively. When consumed in sufficient amounts, mycotoxins can cause death through a toxic response in the body called mycotoxicosis. This makes testing of mycotoxins in food indispensable.

Importance of testing of mycotoxins in labs

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolite, which is produced when the food gets contaminated by fungi during storage or during growth stage of crops like cereal grains, corn, nuts, coffee, rice, sorghum, spices, and others. Even wine, beer, dried beans, grape juice, cacao products, and animal-derived items can be contaminated by mycotoxins.
At Glarc, we use the most sophisticated technologies for analytical testing and comply by national and international standards and methodologies to detect the presence of mycotoxins in food materials.
When food that is contaminated by mycotoxins is consumed, it can lead to organ damage, disruption of hormonal system, compromised immunity, or cancer. Growing awareness about this deadly substance in food has led many countries, including India, to form regulatory policies for Testing of mycotoxins. Farmers are being educated to breed crops that are fungal resistant. It is also important to test grains harvested from the field for mycotoxins.

Importance of testing of aflatoxins in lab

According to food scientists, aflatoxin is one of the deadliest natural poisons known to them. Surprisingly, it can be found in some of the commonest food items around us, including pet food. This makes testing of aflatoxins a serious matter.
Aflatoxins are poisonous mutagens and carcinogens produced by Aspergillus species of molds, chiefly Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus.

As per studies, the molds and fungi grow in soil and decay crops like maize, wheat, millet, sorghum, coffee, peanuts, rice, cassava, cottonseed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, tree nuts, cereal grains, oil seeds, chili peppers, and others. So, testing of aflatoxins and mycotoxins become vital for such foods.
If not tested, then the contamination can enter the general supply of food, threatening the health of humans and animals.

Alfatoxins are also found in animal feed. So, if animals are fed such contaminated food, they can pass the deadly substance through milk, eggs, and meat to humans and other animals.
At Glarc nationally recognized laboratory, we conduct a comprehensive testing of mycotoxin and aflatoxins in food items. You can contact us for our services.