Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies a method for the rapid detection of mycotoxins content such as aflatoxin B1, total aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A in cereals by lateral flow immunoassay. The limits of detection of the method are (1,0 -100,0) g/kg, and the limits of quantification of the method are (3,0 - 300,0) g/kg

Purpose

(1) Global Relevance: Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by specific fungi during their growth. Common mycotoxins include aflatoxins (Afs), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin A (OTA). These toxins primarily spread through the food chain, with humans being exposed to these harmful substances by consuming contaminated cereals, oils, and food products. Such exposure can lead to a range of health issues, including organ damage, immune system suppression, and an increased cancer risk. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, around 25% of agricultural products worldwide are contaminated with mycotoxins each year, with crops such as maize, wheat, and other cereals being the most severely affected. The production of mycotoxins is strongly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, making cereals and their derivatives more vulnerable to contamination in tropical and subtropical regions. The presence of mycotoxins not only poses a significant risk to human health but also has a considerable impact on global trade in agricultural products. With the ongoing expansion of international food trade, there is an urgent need for rapid, on-site detection of mycotoxins in food to ensure its safety and quality.

(2) Necessity of the Project: To strengthen the control of mycotoxin risks in food, numerous countries and international organizations have developed standardised analysis methods. Globally, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN), and the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) have all made substantial contributions to establishing detection standards for mycotoxins in food. In ISO and CEN standards, mycotoxin detection primarily involves pre-treatment techniques such as immunoaffinity column purification, silica gel column purification, or liquid-liquid extraction, which are coupled with large laboratory instrument methods like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). AOAC, on the other hand, has focused on analytical chemistry detection methods, offering a relatively comprehensive system that includes large laboratory instruments such as gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, as well as rapid detection techniques such as thinlayer chromatography (TLC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). In general, current international standards for mycotoxin detection rely heavily on large laboratory instruments, while rapid detection methods are relatively scarce. Consequently, there is a growing demand for rapid detection standards for mycotoxins in cereals. A rapid detection method based on lateral flow immunoassay offers a promising solution to this issue.

(3) Technological Advancement: As rapid detection technologies for mycotoxins continue to advance, lateral flow immunoassay-based methods for detecting mycotoxins in cereals offer distinct advantages. This method does not require the preparation of standard curves and allows for rapid results, either through visual observation or using portable detection devices. It provides high sensitivity and accuracy, making it particularly suitable for on-site rapid testing in international grain trade. The development of this standard will fill the current gap in ISO standards for the rapid detection of mycotoxins. It will resolve several common international challenges in rapid detection methods for cereal mycotoxins. First, current methods use methanol-water mixtures as extraction solvents; however, methanol is highly toxic, making it unsuitable for field use. Second, current methods employ different sample pre-treatment techniques for different mycotoxins, which complicates the simultaneous detection of multiple toxins in a single sample. This new standard will integrate and optimise existing methods, replacing methanol-water with an eco-friendly ethanol-water extraction solvent. This change not only promotes environmental sustainability but also helps safer testing conditions for personnel. By standardising pre-treatment methods for various toxins, this approach will significantly enhance detection efficiency.