Consumer-funded testing finds 11 of 12 petfoods contaminated

A number of petfood brands have tested positive for potentially harmful bacteria and other contaminants, according to a project funded by a group of pet owners and coordinated by the Association for Truth in Pet Food.

The project is the first of its kind to use crowdfunding to test pet products: In April 2014, an IndieGoGo campaign began to raise US$10,000 " to test many different brands and varieties of petfood for dangerous contaminants." The campaign said that all test results would become public  information, including brand names, and that all at-risk results would be provided to petfood regulatory authorities. Once the money was raised (US$15,705 by the time the campaign ended in June 2014), Association for Truth in Pet Food oversaw the project and documented each product tested, compiling results for dissemination to the public and authorities.
The Pet Food Test examined 12 petfood products, six cat foods and six dog foods, according to the association. Testing was performed with the assistance of INTI Services. Eleven petfood products were ordered online (shipped directly from the online retailer to INTI Services) and one petfood product was purchased directly from a veterinarian. Products were shipped "blind" to numerous laboratories contracted by INTI Services.
Products were tested for mycotoxins, guaranteed analysis/mineral content, cyanuric acid and melamine, euthanizing drugs and bacteria:

• The budget allowed for testing of eight (of 12) petfoods for 37 different mycotoxins. Results found all petfoods had some level of mycotoxin contamination; four petfoods tested as Low Risk, two petfoods tested as Medium Risk and two petfoods tested as High Risk.
• All 12 petfood products were tested for Guaranteed Analysis nutrient and mineral content. Results were compared with AAFCO nutrient requirements and suggested nutrient maximum as established by the National Research Council’s (NRC) publication Mineral Tolerances of Animals. Testing found four instances in excess of nutrient maximum suggested by NRC in cat foods, five instances in excess of nutrient maximum suggested by NRC in dog foods and five instances of excess of AAFCO regulatory nutrient maximum in dog foods.
• All 12 petfood products were tested for cyanuric acid and melamine; results found no measurable level of either contaminant.
• All 12 petfood products were tested for euthanizing drugs; results found no measurable amount of these contaminants in any petfood tested.
• All 12 petfood products were tested for bacteria content (results stated in percentage of total bacterial content). Results found: nine petfoods contained one or more bacteria FDA terms as 'Qualifying Pathogens' which "have the potential to pose a serious threat to public health"; 10 petfoods contained one or more "Pathogenic Microorganisms" listed in the FDA's Bad Bug Book; nine petfoods contained one or more bacteria the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations links to "spoilage of meat"; and nine petfoods contained one or more potential pathogenic bacteria per analysis by Dr. Jean Dodds.
The full report can be found on the association's website, including infographics, an overview of results and the full results.

Alltech releases preliminary data from crop mycotoxin analysis

While experts are forecasting a record-plus year for crop yields, an abundant harvest does not always indicate a problem-free crop to feed to livestock, and preliminary data conducted by Alltech’s 37+ Mycotoxin Analysis Program is showing there might be issues to watch for.
Late season rains have slowed harvest across the Midwest US. As of Oct. 27, 2014, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated the corn harvest at 46%, a 15% increase from the previous week but 19% behind the five-year average. Corn conditions were estimated by the USDA at 74% “good” or “excellent” condition, 19% was considered “fair” and 7% was considered “poor.” While these initial condition ratings look favorable, experts warn that seasonal conditions still might have taken a toll on the crop and left behind some masked mycotoxins.
“Cool, wet weather can be a precursor for mold growth and can lead to possible mycotoxin issues,” said Dr. Max Hawkins, nutritionist with Alltech’s Mycotoxin Management Team. “Fusarium graminareum can produce a variety of mycotoxins and prefers high moisture and temperatures from 59 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This year’s growing season was cool and wet and the harvest season has also been delayed by wet weather."
An early indication of the Fusarium issue was found in the wheat crop, where high levels of Deoxynivalenol (DON) were found east of the Mississippi River, Dakotas and into Canada. DON levels in these regions ranged from 1,000 ppb to 15,000 ppb. According to Hawkins, this places wheat at a potential high risk for livestock feed, and extreme caution should be used when feeding straw to ruminants.
Corn silage samples have also indicated there might be challenges in the 2014 crop. “The 2014 corn season started off slow due to wet planting conditions and cool soil temperatures," said Heath Paradice, technical manager for Alltech Crop Science. "As a result, while some corn was planted in April, most was done in early to mid-May and in some cases like northern Iowa, planting extended into June. The late planted crops are doing better than expected due to a late fall, but that corn is coming in at a higher moisture content."
The first 35 corn silage samples analyzed at the recently ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited Analytical Services Laboratory of Alltech using Alltech’s 37+ analysis contained an average of 6.83 mycotoxins per sample. Further analysis showed that Type B Trichothecenes, DON and other DON group mycotoxins had an average/sample of 2,087 ppb. Fusaric acid, which can act synergistically with DON, had an average/sample of 1,322 ppb. “Combined, these mycotoxins can have a significant impact on dry matter intake, milk production, growth rate, feed efficiency, gut health, organ function and immune response,” said Hawkins.
With an average/sample level of 126.7 ppb, Zearalenone is showing levels higher than in the past two years. Other Penicilliums, which can impact gut health and rumen function, are typically referred to as “storage mycotoxins” as they require little oxygen and can flourish rapidly in stored forages. Hawkins said the 2014 crop has had some relatively high Penicillium levels already at harvest.
Corn that is stressed and damaged by weather events and insects is more susceptible to mycotoxins. While walking fields and looking for signs of molds, ear rot and stalk rot can be indicators for mycotoxins, there can be toxins present with no visible mold. Hawkins said he recommends having samples analyzed for mycotoxins. “The outlook for corn grain is concerning as the crop has been subjected to a later harvest with increased rain while still in the field,” said Hawkins. “The crop may be harvested at higher moisture levels, which can put added pressure on drying and storage environment to ensure grain at 15% moisture or less for long term storage."

Mycotoxins key topic at upcoming World Nutrition Forum 2014

An expert panel at the 2014 World Nutrition Forum will set the tone for emerging issues and critical research in the development of novel strategies to manage the global mycotoxin issue, according to event organizers.

• Professor Franz Berthiller of the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mycotoxin Metabolism and Center for Analytical Chemistry at the Department for Agrobiotechnology IFA-Tulln will present an overview of the multiple methods of determination, with a focus on liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), the most sensitive and potentially most accurate mycotoxin determination method to date.
• Dr. Betrand Grenier of Purdue University and the BIOMIN Research Center in Tulln will share research showing how even low doses of mycotoxins can increase animals’ susceptibility to diseases, in particular through the effects of mycotoxins on the gut and subsequent inhibition of immune responses. 
•  Professor James Pestka of the Center for Integrative Toxicology at Michigan State University and Dr. Siska Croubels of the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry at Ghent University will focus on deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin) and Fusarium toxins. Pestka will highlight recent findings on the effects on the DON at the hormonal level, specifically through a mechanism of the enteroendocrine cell hormones that induces satiety in the gastrointestinal tract. Croubels will address the impact of Fusarium mycotoxins on poultry gut health by exploring the effects on the intestinal morphology and the barrier function.
The mycotoxin expert panel discussion will be held on October 17, 2014, and will be chaired by Dr. Gerd Schatzmayr, global research director of BIOMIN. The World Nutrition Forum is a premier scientific event organized by BIOMIN. The 6th World Nutrition Forum will take place October 15–18, 2014, in Munich, Germany. 

Alltech to present webinar on mycotoxins in 2013 stored grain crops

Alltech's mycotoxin management team is offering a webinar update on the latest mycotoxins being detected in North America's 2013 stored crop.

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Dr. Max Hawkins will lead the June 20, 2014, webinar and will discuss the impact toxins can have on animal health and performance as well as tips for producers to minimize the risks to their animals and their profits. The webinar will take place at 11 a.m. EST. Spots can be reserved here.

Food testing lab group Silliker increases mycotoxin testing services

Silliker, an international network of accredited food testing laboratories and a Merieux NutriSciences company, now offers expert testing for mycotoxins at its Illinois Analytical Laboratory. The Crete-based facility serves as the organization's Chemistry Testing Center of Excellence in North America.

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"We have a made a significant investment to bring the latest technologies and approved methods for the analysis of mycotoxins to our Crete-based operation," said Randall Fleener, director of the Silliker Illinois Analytical Laboratory. "Employing HPLC with fluorometric and UV detection, we offer expert testing for a wide range of food and feed ingredients. Our skilled scientists possess particular expertise with petfood products."
The ISO 17025-accredited laboratory provides results-at limits of detection (LOD) below US Food and Drug Administration guidance-for the following mycotoxins:

• Aflatoxins B1/B2, G1/G2 
• Aflatoxins M1
• Fumonisin B1, B2 
• Ochratoxin A
• Vomitoxin/Deoxynivalenol 
• Zearalenone
Silliker (#626) will be exhibiting at the 2014 Petfood Forum, March 31-April 2, 2014, in Schaumburg, Ill., USA. Experts will be on hand to discuss the laboratory's enhanced mycotoxin testing capabilities, as well as other technical and consulting services for the petfood industry.

Webinar presents mycotoxin strategies for 2013 corn harvest

Register for the free webinar, "Mycotoxin Strategies for the 2013 Corn Harvest," which will take place November 19, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. Central and feature Dr. Raj Murugesan, technical specialist at BIOMIN, and Christy Swoboda, laboratory director and quality manager at Romer Labs.
The 2013 corn crop has been under significant stress; as a result the overall quality is a concern to livestock and poultry producers. BIOMIN and Romer Labs will discuss quality findings and possible effects to livestock and poultry.
The webinar, moderated by Feed International/Feed Management Editor Jackie Roembke, will cover the following topics:

• Prevalence of mycotoxins in North American corn 2013
• Effects of mycotoxicoses in animals
• Mycotoxin analytical service
This webinar is presented by WATT Global Media and sponsored by BIOMIN/Romer Labs.

Petfoods with plant-derived proteins may contain more mycotoxins, researcher says

Petfoods with plant-derived proteins may also contain more harmful toxins than petfoods with traditional fish and meat proteins, according to new research from the University of Guelph.
"A shift in petfood ingredients is on," says animal and poultry science professor, Trevor Smith, who has spent 35 years researching mycotoxins at Guelph. "Instead of worrying about bacteria spoilage or disease contamination, like we have in the past, we now have to focus on removing mycotoxins."
Smith says pet owners can minimize the risk of mycotoxins by avoiding cheaper petfoods that are more likely to contain vegetable cereals and corn or wheat fillers, and specifically, those with large amounts of rice bran.
"That's the ingredient that's often contaminated," he says. "Although we have no exact numbers, we can estimate that when half of the food is of vegetable origin, there will almost always be some degree of contamination. If the food is mainly of animal origins, the chances of contamination are greatly reduced."
According to Smith, one common mycotoxin found in some grain-based dog and cat foods is deoxynivalenol, which sometimes changes structure when modified by plant enzymes.
He found that adding a specific type of acid to the original enzyme screening can allow manufacturers to detect hidden deoxynivalenol compounds and remove contamination. Smith also says adding yeast to petfood can also help detect mycotoxins because the yeast's fiber binds to the toxins, blocking deoxynivalenol from the pet's blood stream to prevent negative symptoms.
Smith's research is being funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Alltech Canada Inc. of Guelph.

Biomin releases Mycotoxin Survey Program 2012 findings

Biomin released details on the distribution of mycotoxins according to region of origin and commodity type in its latest Mycotoxin Survey Program 2012. The survey confirmed that mycotoxins are a persistent problem around the world, with 82 percent of analyzed samples showing presence of at least one mycotoxin and more than one mycotoxin in 50 percent of the samples. 
From January until December 2012, a total of 4,023 mycotoxin samples collected worldwide were analyzed. In total, 14,468 analyses were carried out for the most important mycotoxins in terms of agriculture and animal production – aflatoxins (Afla), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FUM) and ochratoxin A (OTA). In addition to these mycotoxins, European samples were analyzed for T-2 toxin (T-2). Due to lab regulations in other parts of the world, the presence of this mycotoxin was not tested for in other regions.
Samples tested were diverse, ranging from cereals, such as corn, wheat, barley and rice, to processing by-products, namely soybean meal, corn gluten meal, dried distillers grains with soluble, and other fodder such as straw, silage and finished feed.
In the more than 4,000 samples analyzed, Afla were present in 25 percent, ZEN in 46 percent, DON in 64 percent, FUM in 56 percent and OTA in 31 percent. Average contamination levels of all samples were 34 ppb for Afla, 251 ppb for ZEN, 1,088 ppb for DON, 1,350 ppb for FUM and 5 ppb for OTA. Compared with data from the previous year, an increase in the occurrence of fusariotoxins (DON, FUM and ZEN) was observed together with a slight decrease in Afla.

Researchers share latest on mycotoxins in animal feed

With nearly 500 known mycotoxins, interactions between toxins can make diagnosis difficult, and it can be further complicated by the presence of masked mycotoxins in animal feed. These complications can lead to an underestimation of certain mycotoxins by up to 88 percent, explaining why analyzed animal feed can show low levels of mycotoxins but still be problematic, according to research presented at Alltech's first North American Mycotoxin Management Summit in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. 
More than 65 members of the animal feed industry attended “Making Sense of the Maze... New Strategies for Old Problems,” where attendees learned about advances in mycotoxin research and analysis, as well as learned about Alltech's Mycotoxin Management Program.
“In the last two decades, advances in technology have altered our view of mycotoxin issues in the food chain. We now know it is a mycotoxin complex, and we have a better understanding of the physiological and pathological effects of mycotoxins” said Dr. Karl Dawson, chief scientific officer at Alltech.
In his presentation, “Mycotoxin Research, 20 Years and What Have We Learned,” Dawson discussed how researchers are now able to detect a greater number of mycotoxins with the use of LC-MS/MS methodology; can provide a risk assessment based on the mycotoxins that are found as they relate to the particular species being fed; and determine the correct mitigation strategy through balanced nutrition and the development of functional carbohydrates.
In addition to increased detection and assessment in the laboratory, researchers have also identified more risk factors at the farm level. According to Randy Asher, Animal Science Consulting, conditions such as stress (environmental, overcrowding and comfort), disease, diet and stray voltage can magnify a mycotoxin problem. 
Johanna Fink-Gremmels, Utrecht University, noted that mycotoxins continue to be a concern for both animals and humans. “On the global scale we have to learn we need to deal with mycotoxins. We will never get rid of them. We have to be prepared that the sudden incidence of mycotoxins in grains will not be infrequent,” she said.
Speakers also touched on preparation and the necessity for producers and feed mills to implement a mycotoxin management program utilizing Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points-based principles. Speakers also said the industry needs to understand pre- and post- harvest mycotoxin contamination and identify hazards as well as potential control points for mitigation.
An entire track on mycotoxins will also be hosted at GLIMPSE 2020: the 29th Annual Alltech International Symposium in Lexington, May 19-22. 

Biomin launches Mycotoxin Risk Management app

Biomin has launched the Mycotoxin Risk Management app, a new application that allow instant access to worldwide data on mycotoxin occurrence and information on the possible risks resulting from mycotoxins.
The new Mycotoxin Risk Management app is optimized for all iOS (Apple) and Android smartphones and tablets, available in the iOS App Store and on Google Play.
Features include:
• Mycotoxin occurrence data by region and/or subregion
• Mycotoxin Risk Level indicator for poultry, pigs and ruminants
• Easy-to-use mycotoxicoses guide
• Mycotoxin-related news from Biomin
• Mycotoxin occurrence data available offline
• Regular updates and more

Alltech launches five-point Mycotoxin Management Program

Alltech has launched its five-point Mycotoxin Management Program. The Alltech five-point Mycotoxin Management Program is a multiple mycotoxin-control program for feedstuffs designed to reduce risk and improve safety, while ensuring mycotoxins do not pose a threat to the food chain.
Alltech’s Mycotoxin Management Program offers five key components for farms concerned with mycotoxin contamination:
1. The 37+ program analyzes for multiple mycotoxin contamination in a given feed sample.
2. The program also provides a risk assessment and calculates the toxic equivalent quantity (toxicity times the quantity of mycotoxins) for that particular feedstuff sample.
3. Alltech has developed techniques to demonstrate how utilizing the Mycotoxin Management Program can help to reduce the threat posed by multiple mycotoxins.
4. The Mycotoxin Hazard Analysis Program (MIKO) from Alltech is designed to help improve production systems on farm and at feed mills by performing an audit; determining the critical control points; and establishing critical limits, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, checking procedures and protocols for recording information.
5. Finally, the mycotoxin management team provides a complete contamination report and recommendations for management and nutritional applications that can assist with mycotoxin prevention and control.
“For three decades, we have believed that animal feed seldom contains a single mycotoxin. Although many mycotoxin interactions have been proven in academic settings, it has been difficult to understand such interactions due to the lack of extensive mycotoxin testing,” said Dr. Swamy Haladi, global technical director for Alltech’s Mycotoxin Management Team. “Over the last four years, our scientists have developed the 37+ Program, wherein more than 37 mycotoxins can be quantified in a single run. This program involves the application of UPLC-MS/MS methodologies, which not only help in assessing multiple mycotoxins in a more accurate manner but also allow the analysis of a wide range of feedstuffs, including forages, which may not be possible with conventional methods such as ELISA and HPLC.”

Biomin releases report on mycotoxins in animal feed

Biomin released the results of its Biomin Mycotoxin Survey Program 2011, a comprehensive report on studies conducted on the distribution of mycotoxins according to region of origin and common type. 
More than 4,300 samples were collected from various countries over a 12-month period from January-December 2011, and 13,854 analyses of mycotoxins were performed to investigate the occurrence of aflatoxins, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins and/or ochratoxin A in different regions of the world and feed materials. 
More than 70 percent of the samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, followed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and the thin-layer chromatography method. Samples were first classified according to region of origin (see figure), mainly by the Asia-Pacific (37 percent); Europe, Africa and the Middle East (35 percent); the Americas (27 percent). Second, samples were classified by commodity types, ranging from raw materials, like corn (33 percent), wheat (9 percent), barley (7 percent) and soybean (5 percent), to finished feed (25 percent), silage (8 percent) and other feed ingredients (13 percent). 
The results show that average contamination levels were slightly lower in 2011 compared with 2010, though the percentage of mycotoxin distribution found at the maximum levels remains similar to that of 2010 for zearalenone, deoxynivalenol and fumonisins. The report also found that with aflatoxins,  zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins and/or  ochratoxin A affected 27 percent, 40 percent, 59 percent, 51 percent and 27 percent of the 4,327 samples collected worldwide, respectively. 

In addition, the report offers a regional breakdown for common mycotoxin occurrences, types of commodities associated with the different mycotoxins, and the corresponding maximum and average levels of contamination per region for each toxin. The full report is available on Biomin's website. 

Kansas receives FDA grant to further examine animal food

The Kansas Department of Agriculture announced it received a US$1.1 million grant to study petfoods and livestock feed.
Funds from the grant, which was awarded by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will be used to further detect mycotoxins in petfood and feed. A portion of these funds will be used to purchase advanced laboratory equipment to help with this detection.
"Analyzing grain-based animal feed and petfoods for mycotoxins is an expansion of work we already to do ensure that they are safe for the animals consuming them," said Kansas Agriculture Secretary Josh Svaty.

French scientist explains the effects of DON

Mycotoxin intestinal absorption – specifically the effects of DON on the gastrointestinal tract – is the subject of one of the latest videos on Biomin’s Mycotoxin Channel on YouTube.
In a one-minute-plus clip, Dr. Isabelle Oswald of the French National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA) explains what happens in the intestines of animals as a result of the mycotoxin DON.