Unwanted Moulds Exposed: Food & Environment

Mould Toxins Surge Under New Rules

Mycotoxins, toxic compounds produced by moulds such as Fusarium species, contaminate staple crops like cereals, nuts, and dried fruits. T-2 and HT-2 toxins, in particular, pose risks of immunotoxicity and other effects at elevated exposures.

In July 2024, the European Union replaced indicative levels with enforceable maximum levels for the combined T-2 and HT-2 in various foods, including cereals and cereal products. This shift demands more rigorous testing and mitigation to avoid border rejections or market withdrawals.

The UK, post-Brexit, monitors these changes closely. The Food Standards Agency commissioned assessments revealing potential chronic exposure concerns, especially for infants, toddlers, and children consuming oat-based products where levels sometimes approach or exceed tolerable daily intakes.

Climate change amplifies the problem. Warmer conditions and shifting precipitation patterns expand fungal ranges and intensify outbreaks. Reports from 2025 highlight elevated risks in Europe, North America, and Central Asia, with Fusarium toxins like deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisins prominent. Extreme weather stresses plants, increasing susceptibility to infection and toxin production.

Impacts extend beyond health. Contaminated batches lead to substantial economic costs through destruction or diversion of feed, trade disruptions, and compliance burdens. Emerging data on plant-based beverages and meat alternatives show mycotoxin transfer, complicating safety in growing dietary shifts.

Tensions arise between stricter regulations protecting consumers and practical challenges for producers in variable climates. Lower proposed limits for other mycotoxins, like fumonisins in maize, signal further tightening ahead, while surveillance gaps in new food categories persist.