Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Occurrence of Fusarium and Fumonisins on Food Grains and in Foods

  • Chapter
Fumonisins in Food

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 392))

Abstract

Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon occurs worldwide on corn intended for human and animal consumption. A closely related species Fusarium proliferatum also occurs frequently on corn. Yellow dent corn, white dent corn, white and yellow popcorn and sweet corn may be contaminated. Both organisms are capable of producing fumonisins, including Fumonisin B1 (FB1), Fumonisin B2 (FB2) and Fumonisin B3 (FB3). Fumonisins have been found in corn and corn based foods worldwide. Fumonisins may be found in sound whole kernel corn at levels at or below 1.0 μg/g. By contrast animal disease problems begin to occur at fumonisin levels above 5.0 to 10.0 μg/g. Corn based food products that have the most frequent and highest fumonisin levels, besides whole kernel corn, are corn meal, corn flour and corn grits. In the U.S., corn meal and flour have been found contaminated with FB1 at levels from 0.5 to 2.05 μg/g, and grits from 0.14 to 0.27 μg/g. Corn flakes, corn pops, corn chips and tortilla chips have typically been found negative when tested for fumonisins. Popcorn, sweet corn and hominy corn have been found contaminated with sporadic, low levels (0.01 to 0.08 μg/g) of fumonisins. Contamination levels of corn based foods in Europe appear to be similar to slightly lower than similar products in the U.S., with the possible exception of Italy, where their corn hybrids and corn-based foods appear to be more frequently contaminated with higher levels of fumonisins.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arino, A. A.; Bullerman, L. B. Fungal colonization of corn grown in Nebraska in relation to year, genotype and growing conditions. J. Food Prot. 1994, 57, 1084–1087.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacon, C. W.; Williamson, J. W. Interactions of Fusarium moniliforme, its metabolites and bacteria with corn. Mycopathologia 1992, 117, 65–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cagampang, A. E. Incidence and effects of processing on Fusarium moniliforme and fumonisins in corn. M.S. Thesis. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE. 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain, W. J.; Bacon, C. W.; Norred, W. P.; Voss, K. A. Levels of fumonisin B1 in corn naturally contaminated with aflatoxins. Food Chem. Toxic. 1993, 31, 995–998.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee, D.; Mukherjee, S. K. Contamination of Indian maize with fumonisin B1 and its effects on chicken macrophage. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 1994, 18, 251–253.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, F. S.; Li, G. Y. Simultaneous occurrence of fumonisin B1 and other mycotoxins in moldy corn collected from the People’s Republic of China in regions with high incidence of esophageal cancer. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1994, 60, 847–852.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doko, M. B.; Rapior, S.; Visconti, A.; Schjth, J. E. Incidence and levels of fumonisin contamination in maize genotypes grown in Europe and Africa. J. Agric. Food Chem. 1995, 43, 429–434.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doko, M. B.; Visconti, A. Fumonisin contamination of corn and corn based foods in Italy. UK Workshop on Occurrence and Significance of Mycotoxins. April 21–23. London. 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doko, M. B.; Visconti, A. Occurrence of fumonisins B1 and B2 in corn and corn-based human foodstuff in Italy. Food Add. and Contam. 1994, 11, 433–439.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, S.; Bidoli, E.; Baron, A. E.; LaVecchia, C. Maize and the risk of cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus in Northeastern Italy. J. Nat’l. Cancer Inst. 1990, 82, 1407–1411.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gelderblom, W. C. A.; Kriek. N. P.; Marasas, W. F. O.; Thiel, P. G. Toxicity and carcinogenicity of the Fusarium moniliforme metabolite, fumonisin B1 in rats. Carcinogenesis 1991, 12, 1247–1251.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gelderblom, W. C. A.; Marasas, W. F. O.; Vleggaar, R.; Thiel, P. G.; Cawood, M. E. Fumonisins: Isolation, chemical characterization and biological effects. Mycopathologia 1992, 117, 11–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, L. R.; Colvin, B. M.; Greens, J. T.; Newman, L. E.; Cole, J. R. Pulmonary edema and hydrothorax in swine produced by fumonisin B1 a toxic metabolite of Fusarium moniliforme. J. Vet. Diag. Invest. 1990, 2, 217–221.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katta, S. K. Effect of handling and storage on popcorn quality related to mold content and expansion volume. M.S. Thesis. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE. 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellerman, T. S.; Marasas, W. F. O.; Thiel, P. G.; Gelderblom, W. C. A.; Cawood, M.; Coetzer, J. A. W. Leukoencephalmomalacia in two horses induced by oral dosing of fumonisin B1. Onderstepoort J. Vet Res. 1990, 57, 269–75.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marasas, W. F. O.; Kriek, N. P. J.; Wiggins, V. M.; Steyn, P. S.; Towers, D. K.; Hastie, T. J. Incidence, geographic distribution and toxigenicity of Fusarium species in South African corn. Phytopathology 1979, 69, 1181–1185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marasas, W. F. O.; Nelson, P. E.; Tousson, T. A. Toxigenic Fusarium Species: Identity and Mycotoxicology. The Pennsylvania State University Press: University Park, PA. 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, P. A.; Rice, L. G.; Ross, P. F. Fumonisin B1, B2 and B3 Content of Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois corn and corn screenings. J. Agric. Food Chem. 1993, 41, 263–266.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pestka, J. J.; Azcona-Olivera, J. I.; Plattner, R. D.; Minervini, F.; Doko, M. B.; Visconti, A. Comparative assessment of fumonisin in grain-based foods by ELISA, GC-MS and HPLC. J. Food Prot. 1994, 57, 169–172.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pittet, A.; Parisod, V.; Schellenberg, M. Occurrence of fumonisins B1 and B2 in corn-based products from the Swiss market. J. Agric. Food Chem. 1992, 40, 1352–1354.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pittet, A.; Tornare, D. Survey of European cereals for the presence of fumonisins B1 and B2. Presented at the 106th Annual AOAC International Meeting. August 31-September 2. Cincinnati, OH (Abstract). 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rheeder, J. P.; Marasas, W. F. O.; Thiel, P. G.; Sydenham, E. W.; Shephard, G. S.; van Schalkwyk, D. J. Fusarium moniliforme and fumonisins in corn in relation to human esophageal cancer in Transkei. Phytophathology 1992, 82, 353–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, P. F.; Rice, L. G.; Plattner, R. D.; Osweiler, G. D.; Wilson, T. M.; Owens, D. L.; Nelson, P. A.; Richard, J. L. Concentrations of fumonisin B1 in feeds associated with animal health problems. Mycopathologia 1991, 114, 129–135.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchis, V.; Abadias, M.; Oncins, L.; Sala, N.; Vinas, I.; Canela, R. Occurrence of fumonisins B1 and B2 in corn-based products from the Spanish market. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1994, 60, 2147–2148.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stack, M. E.; Eppley, R. M. Liquid Chromatographic determination of fumonisins B1 and B2 in corn and corn products. J. AOAC Int’l. 1992, 75, 834–837.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sydenham, E. W.; Shephard, G. S.; Thiel, P. G.; Marasas W. F. O.; Stockenstrom, S. Fumonisin contamination of commercial corn-based human foodstuffs. J. Agric. Food Chem. 1991, 25, 767–771.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sydenham, E. W.; Shephard, G. S.; Thiel, P. G.; Marasas, W. F. O.; Rheeder, J. P.; Peralta Sanhueza, C. E.; Gonzalez, H. H. L.; Resnik, S. L. Fumonisins in Argentinian field-trial corn. J. Agric. Food Chem. 1993, 41, 891–895.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ueno, Y.; Aoyama, S.; Sugiura, Y.; Wang, D. S.; Lee, U. S.; Hirooka, E. Y.; Hara, S.; Karki, T.; Chen, G; Yu, S. Z. A limited survey of fumonisins in corn and corn-based products in Asian countries. Mycotoxin Res. 1993, 9, 27–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Usleber, E.; Straka, M.; Terplan, G. Enzyme immunoassay for fumonisin B1 applied to corn-based food. J. Agric. Food Chem. 1994, 42, 1392–1396.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshizawa, T.; Yamashita, A; Luo, Y. Fumonisin occurrence in corn from high-and low-risk areas for human esophageal cancer in China. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1994, 60, 1626–1629.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zoller, O.; Sager, F.; Zimmerli, B. Occurrence of fumonisins in foods. Mitt. Geb. Lebensmittel. and Hygiene 1994, 85, 81–99.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0919, USA

    Lloyd B. Bullerman

Authors
  1. Lloyd B. Bullerman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Food Safety and Technology, Summit-Argo, Illinois, USA

    Lauren S. Jackson

  2. General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Jonathan W. DeVries

  3. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

    Lloyd B. Bullerman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bullerman, L.B. (1996). Occurrence of Fusarium and Fumonisins on Food Grains and in Foods. In: Jackson, L.S., DeVries, J.W., Bullerman, L.B. (eds) Fumonisins in Food. Advances in Experimental medicine and Biology, vol 392. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1379-1_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1379-1_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1381-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1379-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation