Search research reports: Mycotoxins: Biosecurity, Food Safety
and Biofuels Byproducts (NC129, NC1025) Department of Plant
Pathology One of the most important food safety and security
issues facing grain and livestock producers is preventing
mycotoxin contamination of food and feed, and reducing the
deleterious effects of mycotoxins on livestock. Mycotoxins in
grains processed for biofuels become concentrated in the solid
byproduct known as distillers grain (DG). The sale of DGs for
animal feed has become an important source of supplemental
income for biofuel producers, and mycotoxin contamination is a
major concern. The lowering of tolerance limits for mycotoxins
in overseas markets has increased the burden for grain buyers
and food processors; currently, levels of mycotoxins that are
acceptable for some US products are unacceptable in European and
Asian markets, resulting in non-tariff trade barriers. Grain
buyers and food processors need a reliable method for rapid
assessment of grain quality pertaining to