BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey Preliminary European Corn Harvest Results 2020

From September to November 2020 a total of 198 corn samples have been collected for analysis. Specifically, 133 samples were collected from Central Europe, 61 from Eastern Europe and 34 from Southern Europe.  

Preliminary results show an elevated risk for deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) in Central Europe. In South Europe, the biggest concerns are DON and aflatoxins (Afla). In Eastern Europe, T-2 toxin (T-2) and fumonisins (FUM) are the main concerns at the moment.  

Central Europe 

(Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Guernsey, Hungary, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.)

Unsurprisingly, the greatest threat in Central European corn is DON. 90% of analyzed samples were positive for this type B-trichothecene, with majority of positive samples containing levels of DON above the risk threshold which can incur detrimental effects in sensitive species (Table 1). The second most prevalent mycotoxin was ZEN.  

72% of analyzed samples were positive with 61% of them containing levels above the risk threshold. The third most prevalent mycotoxin was FUM (41%) followed by ochratoxin A (OTA) (28%), T-2 toxin and Afla (26%). Additionally, some extreme contamination was detected in some of the samples for these two mycotoxins (maximum ZEN = 1533 ppb, max. DON = 4590 ppb).  

A high percentage of the tested samples contained at least one major mycotoxin above the recommended risk threshold (Total Risk Level: 89%). Co-contamination of samples is an issue. For every 5 samples tested, four were containing more than one mycotoxin (80%). 

Comparing with 2019 corn harvest, both ZEN and DON seem to have an upward trend on the contamination levels, as it is depicted by the average contamination of positive samples (Figure 1 and 2).

Southern Europe 

(Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, Gibraltar, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Monaco, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Montserrat, Malta, Portugal, Serbia, Serbia, San Marino, Turkey and Holy See.)

Fumonisins show the highest occurrence. The prevalence of these mycotoxins was high with 84% samples testing positive. Additionally, almost all of the samples were above the risk threshold. Average and maximum levels were 1972 ppb and 5970 ppb, respectively (Table 2). 

Deoxynivalenol was found in 75% and ZEN in 53% of tested corn samples. Average levels were 782 ppb and 63 ppb, respectively. Maximum levels for DON and ZEN were 3012 ppb and 235 ppb, respectively. In addition, 78% of Southern European corn samples were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin, and 82% of the samples had at least one mycotoxin tested above the risk thresholds. Aflatoxins, although in low occurrence (24%), show some high contamination levels with average of positives close to the regulatory levels imposed by European Union (20 ppb). 

Comparing with 2019 corn harvest in this area, DON and Afla show a rising risk, especially in mean values of contamination of positive samples (Figure 3 and 4).   

Eastern Europe 

(Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.)

In this region, prevalence of FUM in corn samples was 60%, with 24% of positive samples being above the health risk threshold. Average FUM contamination was found to be 1100 ppb and the maximum recorded contamination rate was an alarming 13902 ppb (Table 3). 

Interestingly, but not surprising for this area, T-2 toxin showed high abundance (47%). Furthermore, the average of positives was above the recommended risk thresholds and the maximum value detected was as high as 1387 ppb. Close to one third of the samples analysed, had at least one mycotoxin above the thresholds (29%), and in half of the samples co-contamination with more than one mycotoxin was reported (48%).  

Comparing this data with the corn harvest in 2019, preliminary results show a reducing trend of risk for the two mycotoxins with the highest occurrence (Figure 5 and 6).