Hypothesis: Does
ochratoxin A cause testicular cancer?
This type of feed can be highly contaminated with mycotoxins, in particular
ochratoxin A (OTA; Visconti & Botallico 1983).
Among the mycotoxins of agricultural importance,
ochratoxin A (OTA) is known to be a potent toxin having hepatotoxic, carcinogenic, nephrotoxic and immuno-reducing properties (Smith and Moss, 1985).
Biomarkers of human exposure to
ochratoxin A. Food Addit Contam 2005; 22: (Suppl 1) 99-107.
The commission also adopted guidance to enable coffee-producing countries to develop their own programs addressing
ochratoxin A contamination, a fungal toxin that is considered a possible cancer-causing agent.
The Committee also evaluated the risk posed by two food contaminants namely, aflatoxin and
ochratoxin A to recommend risk management options in order to protect public health.
Topics of the other nine chapters include microalgae in novel food products, the
ochratoxin A concentration in wines, the role of amylose and amylopectin in starchy foods, protein and lipid recovery from food processing by-products, and the gelation of high methoxy pectins.
VICAM, a world leader in food safety diagnostics, has announced that AOAC International has awarded Official Method First Action status to the protocol: "Determination of Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 and
Ochratoxin A in Ginseng and Ginger by Multitoxin Immunoaffinity Column Clean-up and Liquid Chromatographic Quantitation." The method, AOAC number 2008.02, is the first ever to be approved for the simultaneous detection of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) and
ochratoxin A.
Another was a new code that should prevent or reduce contamination in wines of
Ochratoxin A, a mycotoxin known to be toxic to the kidneys.
"We do however need to think more carefully about storage mycotoxins and particularly
Ochratoxin A which can occur within days if grain at higher moisture levels is not dried quickly enough."
Green Cuisine chilli and Bart Spices paprika also had high levels of
ochratoxin A, linked to kidney cancer.