Fumonisin Testing in Food and Feed

Fumonisins are a group of mycotoxins produced primarily by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum. These fungi infect crops in the field, particularly under warm growing conditions and where plant stress or insect damage is present.
The most significant fumonisins are:
‣ Fumonisin B1 (FB1)
‣ Fumonisin B2 (FB2)
Fumonisin B1 is the most prevalent and toxic of the group.
Although fumonisins are most strongly associated with maize, they may also be detected in other cereals and cereal-derived ingredients used in food and feed production. Contamination typically occurs pre-harvest and may not be evident from visual assessment of the raw material.

Fumonisin contamination is most common in maize and maize-derived ingredients, but the toxin may also be present in:
‣ Maize and maize-based products
‣ Maize gluten and maize by-products
‣ Compound feed and premixes containing cereal fractions
‣ Cereal-based food products
‣ Pet food formulations containing maize or cereal components
Environmental stress, insect damage and climatic conditions during crop development significantly influence toxin levels.
Fumonisins are relatively stable and may persist through storage and processing, allowing them to remain present in finished food and feed products. Co-contamination with other Fusarium toxins, such as DON and ZEA, is not uncommon in cereal-based materials.

Fumonisins disrupt sphingolipid metabolism, affecting cell membrane integrity and normal cellular function.
In animals, exposure may result in:
‣ Reduced growth performance
‣ Liver toxicity
‣ Pulmonary oedema in pigs
‣ Leukoencephalomalacia in horses
‣ Impaired immune function
Horses and pigs are particularly sensitive to fumonisin exposure. Companion animals may also be affected when contaminated cereal ingredients are present in pet food formulations.
In humans, chronic dietary exposure has been associated with adverse health outcomes in high-exposure regions, and regulatory limits are established to minimise risk.

Fumonisin contamination can be unevenly distributed within grain or feed lots, making representative sampling essential.
Quantitative laboratory analysis supports:
‣ Verification of compliance with regulatory limits
‣ Risk-based raw material approval
‣ Protection of sensitive species
‣ Control of contamination in cereal-based foods and pet products
‣ Management of co-occurring Fusarium toxins
Multi-mycotoxin LC-MS/MS methods enable simultaneous detection of fumonisins alongside other regulated mycotoxins, providing a comprehensive contamination profile.

Effective control relies on:
‣ Good agricultural and crop management practices
‣ Reduction of insect damage
‣ Proper drying and storage
‣ Monitoring of cereal-based raw materials
‣ Representative sampling and validated analytical testing
Given the widespread use of maize and cereal fractions in global food and feed systems, routine fumonisin monitoring remains an essential component of mycotoxin risk management.