Regulatory aspects of mycotoxins in soybean and soybean products

More than 50 countries have enacted or proposed regulations for the control of aflatoxins in foods and/or feeds, and at least 15 of these countries also have regulations for permitted levels of contamination by other mycotoxins. Since 1965, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has used action levels to control aflatoxins in its compliance programs. Cooperative programs with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state agencies, and industry also have been used to keep exposure to aflatoxins as low as practical. Soybeans support the growth of many mold species, which can produce toxins such as aflatoxins, trichothecenes (such as T-2), and cytochalasins. The natural occurrence of these toxins in soybeans has not been a problem. Limited surveys of soybeans and soy-based infant formulas have not revealed significant contamination. The sequence of events that leads to consideration of a mycotoxin for control programs and other regulatory activity includes determination of a toxic response, isolation and identification of the toxin, development of a sampling plan and method of analysis, and determination of incidence and levels of contamination of the susceptible commodity. The quality of soybeans can vary widely, depending on environmental, agronomic, and storage conditions. products susceptible to contamination from improper storage are subject to regulatory action on a case-by-case basis. The government-industry cooperative programs have been successful in limiting human exposure to aflatoxins.