Group of Health Surveillance, Center of Pharmaceutical Studies, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Sta Comba, P-3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2010 Oct;27(10):1440-50. doi: 10.1080/19440049.2010.497166.
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring contaminants whose presence in food- and feedstuffs cannot be completely avoided. The safety and economic impact arising from the commercialization of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed supply chain is considerable and acknowledged. To protect consumers from mycotoxin-derived health risks, many countries have adopted regulations or guidelines to limit exposure. Similar to regulation for other mycotoxins, the regulatory status of ochratoxin A (OTA) lacks consensus. Although this was one of the first fungal toxins to be subjected to compliance control due to its toxic properties, the conflict between the prime objective of consumer health safeguard and the economic interests of producers and traders remains. One of the key challenges facing policymakers is to balance these conflicting demands and reach consensual regulatory actions or limits. The noteworthy transboundary implications are recognized, both in the case of absence as the unsubstantiated tightening of regulatory limits. This paper scrutinizes the rationales and implications of mycotoxin regulation, with special attention devoted to OTA. In view of the ongoing debate concerning this complex issue, a review of the arguments and suggested strategies proposed by different parties is also made. The specific case of OTA regulation in food and feed is updated and analysed at a European Union and global level.
真菌毒素是天然存在的污染物，其在食品和饲料中的存在是无法完全避免的。受真菌毒素污染的食品和饲料供应链的商业化所带来的安全和经济影响是相当大的，也是公认的。为了保护消费者免受真菌毒素带来的健康风险，许多国家都制定了法规或准则来限制其暴露量。与其他真菌毒素的监管类似，赭曲霉毒素 A（OTA）的监管状况缺乏共识。尽管由于其毒性特性，OTA 是首批受到合规控制的真菌毒素之一，但消费者健康保护的首要目标与生产者和贸易商的经济利益之间的冲突仍然存在。政策制定者面临的主要挑战之一是平衡这些相互冲突的需求，并达成一致的监管行动或限制。鉴于这一复杂问题正在进行辩论，还审查了不同方面提出的论点和建议策略。特别关注 OTA，并在欧洲联盟和全球层面更新和分析食品和饲料中 OTA 监管的具体案例。
