Mycotoxins in rice 'low or non-detectable'
Wednesday 10 April 2002
An Agency-commissioned survey of mycotoxins in retail rice has found levels in all of the 100 samples tested to be below current or proposed EC limits.
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring chemicals produced by moulds growing on foodstuffs, including rice. A number of mycotoxins are genotoxic carcinogens, which means they can cause cancer by damaging genetic material.
Expert committees have recommended that exposure to genotoxic mycotoxins should be reduced to levels as low as technologically achievable.
Samples were analysed for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin and Fusarium toxins (fumonisins, trichothecenes and zearalenone). Aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol, a trichothecene, were detected at low levels, however, none of the samples contained detectable levels of any other toxins.
In the survey, published on 8 April 2002, one hundred samples, comprising long grain rice, easy cook rice, basmati rice, speciality rice, brown rice, short grain rice, flaked and ground rice, were collected from retail outlets in three areas of England.
The number of samples of each type of rice was calculated on a market share basis. No samples had levels of mycotoxins present above current or proposed EC limits. Ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, fumonisin B1, B2 and B3 and zearalenone were not detected in any of the samples.
Aflatoxins were quantified in 17 of the rice samples analysed at levels ranging from 0.2 to 1.8 micrograms/kg total aflatoxins.
The highest levels of aflatoxin were found in basmati and brown rice. All levels found were below the EC legislative limits of 2 micrograms/kg aflatoxin B1 and 4 micrograms/kg total aflatoxins in cereal products for direct human consumption.
A low level of deoxynivalenol (12 micrograms/kg) was detected in one sample of rice, however, no other trichothecenes were detected in any of the samples. This is well below the proposed EC action limit of 500 micrograms/kg.
There is therefore no need for anyone to alter their dietary habit as a result of the findings in this survey. No specific Agency action was required in this instance, however the Agency undertakes a rolling programme of food surveys to assess mycotoxin contamination of retail products and will continue to monitor the situation.