Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Foodborne Toxins

These are the types of toxins AVA screen and test in food for import and export by using sensitive and rapid analysis methods.

1. Mycotoxins:

Aflatoxins B and G in grains and nuts

Aflatoxin M in milk

Patulin in apple juice

Ochratoxins A

2. Marine biotoxins:

Toxigenic strains of algae (Red Tide) -> accumulate in fish and shellfish

Paralytic Shellfish Poison (saxitoxin)

Diarrhetic Shellfish Poison (Okadaic acid)

Amnesic Shellfish Poison (Domoic acid)

3. Bacterial toxins

Staphylococcus aureus (food)

Bacillus cereus (food)

4. Other natural toxicants or allergens

Histamine (scombroid fish)

Taken from: Testing of Food and Food Products , 8 May 2008, http://www.ava.gov.sg/AVA/Templates/AVA-GenericContentTemplate.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fFoodSector%2fFoodTestingAndCertification%2fTestingOfFoodAndFoodProd%2f&NRNODEGUID=%7b036F87DA-E1EF-410B-B53B-9EF71CC3E636%7d&NRCACHEHINT=Guest#TXN

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