Re: Aflaxtoxin/wheat/Turkey

Jim Quinton (jquinton@csc.noaa.gov)
Wed, 12 Aug 1998 17:16:12 -0400

I believe you can get some good background information on acceptable levels
of micotoxins from Purdue University - Agronomy. They publish levels in
grains which can be tolerated by livestock and humans -- different levels
for different classes & ages. I didn't think it was a carcinogen. I'd be
surprised if the Turks really are finding Aflatoxin, but I s'pose
anything's possible.... Another micotoxin which is more common in wheat
would be Vomitoxin (the toxin produced by fusarium molds as in "Head Scab"
in wheat and barley). Vomitoxin is found in wheat all over the world, but
at such low levels that it isn't usually a big problem. French wheat
growers are familiar with it, but since they have such a cool climate, it
rarely gives them much trouble. In warmer climates it can be almost
chronic. Once in a while Mother Nature brings rain and/or heavy dew during
heading & flowering and simultaneously raises the ambient air temperatures
up over 80 (F) which allows the spores to germinate and infest tender wheat
parts. Where wheat is grown in rotation with corn, spores are more
plentiful as the mold also flourishes in corn tissue. Consequently, "Head
Scab" in wheat may occur more frequently in those locations and Vomitoxin
levels get up a bit more often....

At 02:39 PM 8/12/98 -0500, Michele Gale-Sinex/CIAS, UW-Madison wrote:
>Howdy, all--
>
>From ProMED, for you-all sustainable food systems folks and those of
>you with projects in the Mediterranean. I'd be interested in knowing
>more about the movement of wheat in/thru/around Asia Minor, if
>anybody knows about that. Note that the crop was used both for animal
>and human consumption.
>
>
>pax
>m
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
>AFLATOXIN, WHEAT SUPPLY - TURKEY (MARMARA)
>******************************************
>A ProMED-mail post
>
>Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 17:13:08 GMT-3
>From: ProMED-mail
>Source: Turkish Daily News, Mon 10 Aug 1998
>
>
>Agriculture Minister Mustafa Tasar disclosed that part of the wheat
>grown in the Marmara region is not fit for consumption because it
>contains a carcinogenic substance called Aflatoxin due to a plant
>disease caused by too much rainfall.
>
>He made that announcement 15 days after the Soil Products Office (TMO)
>and private dealers started buying this year's wheat crop from the
>producers. During the 15-day delay, the contaminated wheat was sold,
>mostly to mill owners who would grind it and sell it to bakeries and
>to animal feed dealers.
>
>- --
>ProMED-mail
>
>[Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that grows on spoiled crops,
>famously including peanuts (groundnuts). This is a sad story that
>points out the importance of reporting infectious diseases & toxins as
>soon as possible to avoid widespread infection or intoxication;
>something that we hope ProMED-mail contributes to - Mod.JW]
>
><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>Michele Gale-Sinex, communications manager
>Center for Integrated Ag Systems
>UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences
>Voice: (608) 262-8018 FAX: (608) 265-3020
> >http://www.wisc.edu/cias/
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>The black sesame rice crackers weren't sealed well,
>so they're the slightest bit soggy. They stick to my
>teeth like tamari Captain Crunch. --Mister 3D
>
>
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