Mycotoxins are naturally occurring poisons produced by certain molds and fungi. They can contaminate foods and crops and can cause serious health problems in humans and animals, including livestock. Because of the health risks they pose, mycotoxins compromise food safety and raise regulatory concerns.

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What Are Mycotoxins and How Do They Contaminate Food?

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring poisonous compounds produced by certain molds and fungi. They thrive in warm, humid environments. Agricultural crops and foods that grow under warm and humid conditions, like fruits, spices, grains, nuts, and coffee beans have a higher likelihood of mold contamination. 

Mycotoxins contaminate food during growth, harvest, or improper storage. Toxin exposure can also occur through inhalation of contaminated airborne dust particles or by direct skin contact with contaminated surfaces.  

Types of Mycotoxins and Their Health Effects

Some mycotoxins cause acute symptoms, appearing quickly after eating contaminated foods or being exposed to contaminated areas, while others cause long-term health effects, such as cancer and compromised immune health. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), several hundred variants of mycotoxins have been identified. However, a few are more commonly known for contaminating food, or found in water-damaged areas, causing severe effects on human health, including: 

• Aflatoxins
• Ochratoxins
• Fumonisins
• Zearalenone
• Trichothecenes
• Patulin

Aflatoxins – The Most Dangerous Mycotoxin

Aflatoxins are highly poisonous substances produced by certain molds or fungi, mainly the Aspergillus flavus fungi.  

Aflatoxins contaminate crops like corn, peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts. However, they can also be found on other crops, like cocoa beans and spices. Aflatoxins can be produced during any stage of food production, including harvest, storage, and processing.

Aflatoxins are considered genotoxic, which means they damage DNA. This can lead to cancer and birth defects. Aflatoxins are known for causing severe liver damage, including liver cancer. They also contribute to immune suppression. 

Ochratoxin A – A Threat to Kidney Health

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that can contaminate food products, like grains and cereals, coffee, grapes, wine, and spices. It can be produced when crops are not properly stored. It can also contaminate water and accumulate in water-damaged houses and heating ducts. 

Ochratoxin is produced by molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. A person can become sick from OTA by consuming contaminated foods and beverages and by inhalation. 

Ochratoxin A is a food safety concern because it is heat-resistant. It does not degrade easily and can withstand the high temperatures typically used in food processing. This makes it difficult to remove through standard cooking temperatures. 

OTA can lead to severe health issues, affecting multiple organs. It is especially harmful to the kidneys, often leading to kidney damage. Health issues caused by OTA include: 

• Kidney disease, including tumors and cancer
• Liver disease, including inflammation and cancer
• DNA damage 
• Chromosomal abnormalities

Other Notable Mycotoxins and Their Impact

Other common mycotoxins that present a concern for food safety and human health include: 

• Fumonisins: A mycotoxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum. It can be found in corn and other grains. It causes severe digestive issues, like diarrhea and abdominal pain. It is linked to esophageal cancer, liver and kidney disease, and an increased risk of congenital disabilities in pregnancy.

   

• Zearalenone: A carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum It is typically found in cereal crops, like rice, barley, wheat, and other grains. It is linked to reproductive health issues, including estrogenic effects and other hormonal imbalances. Zearalenone causes DNA damage, impairs kidney and liver function, and compromises immunity.

   

• Patulin: A mycotoxin produced by Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Byssochlamys molds. It is found in moldy fruits and vegetables, especially apples and apple juice. Health hazards caused by Patulin include gastrointestinal issues, like nausea and vomiting. It Is also known to cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and spleen. It impairs the immune system and can lead to neurological damage.

   

• Trichothecene mycotoxins are a group of toxic substances produced by various molds, including Stachybotrys chartarum, Fusarium, Myrothecium, Trichoderma, Trichothecium, and Spicellum. Exposure to Trichothecene can lead to a wide range of health hazards, including severe skin and eye irritations. It triggers gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It can cause respiratory issues like coughing, difficulty breathing, and sore throat. It also suppresses the immune system. 

How Mycotoxins Affect the Human Body

Mycotoxins affect the human body through direct damage to cells, cell membranes, and critical metabolic pathways. They accumulate in the body primarily through exposure from ingesting contaminated food products, like grains, cereals, nuts, fruits, and spices, or indirectly through animals that are fed contaminated feed. 

Mycotoxins are carcinogenic, hormone-disrupting, and mutagenic, raising serious health concerns, including: 

• Damage to DNA
• Cancer
• Interference with protein synthesis
• Increased oxidative stress 
• Impairment and damage to the liver, kidney, brain and other organ functions 
• Suppression of the immune system
• Metabolic disruption 

Mycotoxins can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans and animals. Diseases caused by mycotoxins are called mycotoxicosis. 

The Role of Mycotoxins in Gut Health and Microbiota

Mycotoxicosis can have a significant effect on digestive health by disrupting the delicate balance of the gut ecosystem, leading to various digestive issues. NIH research shows that exposure to mycotoxins changes the DNA of the gut microbiota. 

Mycotoxin absorption influences the microbes that make up the gut microbiome by causing them to mutate, thereby changing their biological composition. The once-protective microbes become harmful because of their mutated state. 

Mycotoxicosis also damages the integrity of the gut lining, deteriorating it and leaving it unprotected, vulnerable, and dysfunctional. Mutated gut microbes can move to other parts of the body, leading to digestive dysfunction and chronic inflammation. 

Digestive symptoms from mycotoxicosis include: 

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain

The health impact of the gut barrier disruption from mycotoxin exposure leads to chronic digestive issues, intestinal inflammation, impaired nutrient absorption and increased susceptibility to infections

Final Thoughts on Mycotoxins and Health Risks

Mycotoxins pose serious health risks to both humans and animals. These mold toxins are linked to a range of short and long-term illnesses, including acute poisoning and chronic health issues like liver disease and cancer. Because mycotoxins naturally occur in the environment, they can have a significant impact on the safety and security of our food supply. 

Safety standards and regulations have been put in place by the CAC for keeping the public safe from mycotoxin exposure. In the US, the FDA monitors and regulates the food supply. However, there are still risks and public awareness is crucial for keeping yourself safe from contamination. 

Reading food labels and educating yourself on mycotoxins and where your food comes from can help in advocating for yourself. 

If mold toxicity becomes a problem for you, there are things you can do naturally to minimize the health impact. 

A mold recovery diet eliminates inflammatory and mold-contaminated foods while emphasizing support of the body’s natural detox pathways and immunity. Key foods for mold recovery include anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting foods, such as healthy fats, a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, like berries, leafy greens, and cruciferous vegetables. Herbs and spices like turmeric, ginger, garlic, cilantro, and probiotic-rich foods support detoxification.

Contact us for your personalized plan on our and start healing now.