Fusarium toxins - adult intake from cereals and cereal-based products in Finland

In Finland, the most common Fusarium toxins produced by molds found in cereals include deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, nivalenole and T-2 and HT-2 toxins. Fusarium toxins are found particularly in oat. Maximum levels have been set in EU for deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, and regulations regarding T-2 and HT-2 toxins are in progress. The exposure of Finnish population to Fusarium toxins was evaluated in a project implemented by Evira in collaboration with Agrifood Research Finland and the National Public Health Institute. Intake levels remain below the tolerable daily intake, with the exception of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, the intake of which may exceed the limit for people who eat a lot of unprocessed oat products.The toxin levels vary from one year to the other, depending on the weather during the growing season, in particular. The amount of the toxins can also be significantly reduced through sorting and dehulling of the grain. The maximum limits set for the levels of Fusarium toxins in cereals should be controlled on a continual basis. Control should especially focus on oat and oat products, which have the highest toxin levels.
For additional information, please contact:
Research professor Anja Hallikainen, tel. +358 20 77 24277, email anja.hallikainen@evira.fi