Alternaria toxins in food and feed: EFSA updates its risk assessment

Five toxins can damage DNA

EFSA concluded that five of the eight Alternaria toxins assessed are genotoxic, meaning that they can damage DNA, the genetic material of cells: alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), altertoxin I (ATX-I), altertoxin II (ATX-II), and stemphyltoxin III (STTX-III).

Tenuazonic acid

Tenuazonic acid (TeA) was the Alternaria toxin found most frequently in food, particularly in mulberries, paprika powder and tomatoes.

Available data are insufficient to conclude whether TeA is genotoxic. To assess the non-genotoxic effects of TeA, EFSA’s experts took a conservative approach and concluded, with 98% certainty, that there is a low probability of adverse effects from dietary exposure to TeA.

Current exposure to two toxins unlikely to raise health concerns 

For altenuene (ALT) and tentoxin (TEN), estimated dietary exposure was well below the levels at which adverse health effects might occur. EFSA therefore concluded that adverse effects from ALT and TEN are unlikely at current levels of dietary exposure.

Dietary exposure to Alternaria toxins: main foods and most exposed age groups

Foods contributing most to exposure included cereal-based foods, fruit products and juices, tomatoes, vegetables, grain-based foods, olive oil and sunflower oil.

Infants, toddlers and other young children generally had the highest estimated exposure relative to their body weight.

Animal health: more data needed

For most animal species, more data are needed to assess the health risks from Alternaria toxins in feed. AOH and AME are unlikely to pose a health concern for chickens reared for meat production, while health concerns from exposure to TeA cannot be excluded for chickens reared for meat production and laying hens.

Exploring new methods to reduce animal testing

For the first time, EFSA explored a non-animal method to estimate the level of dietary exposure to TeA that would not be expected to raise health concerns. However, due to remaining uncertainties and data gaps, the results were not used in the risk assessment.

Next steps

EFSA recommends collecting more data and carrying out further research on Alternaria toxins in food and feed. This will help address the remaining gaps in knowledge and strengthen future risk assessments.