Survey of retail rice for a range of mycotoxins (Number 22/02)

• Mycotoxins are naturally occurring chemicals produced by moulds growing on foodstuffs, including rice. A number of mycotoxins are genotoxic carcinogens, i.e. 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.
• In this survey a total of 100 samples of rice and rice products were obtained from a variety of retail outlets in three areas of England, including long grain, basmati, brown and ground rice.
• Samples were analysed for a range of mycotoxins; aflatoxins (B₁, B₂, G₁, G₂), fumonisins (B₁, B₂, B₃), ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyl deoxynivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, fusarenon X, nivalenol, neosolaniol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and T-2 triol), and zearalenone.
• No samples had levels of mycotoxins present above current or proposed EC limits.
• There is therefore no need for anyone to alter their dietary habit as a result of the findings in this survey.
• The Agency will continue to periodically monitor the incidence and levels of mycotoxins in rice to ensure these remain as low as achievable.