mycotoxin

In food safety, a mycotoxin is a toxic substance produced by certain moulds that can grow on crops such as cereals, nuts, fruits, and spices. These toxins can contaminate food and feed and may cause harmful effects in humans and animals, ranging from short-term illness to long-term effects like cancer or damage to the immune system.

EFSA works on mycotoxins by assessing the health risks they pose to consumers. It collects and analyses data on how often mycotoxins occur in food, estimates how much people are exposed to through their diet, and sets health-based guidance values to define safe intake levels. EFSA’s scientific advice helps EU authorities establish legal limits for mycotoxins in food and feed and supports measures to reduce contamination, protecting public health across the EU.