2018 US Outbreaks: Fumonisin in Corn

Fumonisin has been reported in the 2018 US Corn Harvest

2018 US Outbreaks: Fumonisin in Corn

Fumonisin Detected in the US

Each year, at harvest time in the US, EnviroLogix’ customers inform us of the mycotoxins they are encountering as crops are brought in from the field.

harvester in corn field

As reported in Drovers, “the most common fungi observed so far this year has been Diplodia ear rot which does not have a mycotoxin associated with it. However, Fusarium ear rot also has been observed and fusarium species can produce mycotoxins, including fumonisin, vomitoxin (DON), and/or zearalenone.”

EnviroLogix’ Technical Support members and field representatives have gathered reports of Fumonisin detected in recently-harvested corn at levels >6.6PPM. These occurences were in these US states:

  • Kansas
  • Nebraska

The FDA recommends the following levels serve as a limit for corn destined for human consumption:

Human Foods
Product Total Fumonisins
(FB1 + FB2 + FB3)
Degermed dry milled corn products (e.g., flaking grits, corn grits, corn meal, corn flour with fat content of < 2.25%, dry weight basis) 2 parts per million (ppm)
Whole or partially degermed dry milled corn products (e.g., flaking grits, corn grits, corn meal, corn flour with fat content of > 2.25 %, dry weight basis) 4 ppm
Dry milled corn bran 4 ppm
Cleaned corn intended for masa production 4 ppm
Cleaned corn intended for popcorn 3 ppm

The FDA recommends the following levels serve as a limit for corn destined for animal feeds:

Animal Foods
Product Total Fumonisins
(FB1 + FB2 + FB3)
Equids and rabbits 5 ppm
(no more than 20% of diet)**
Swine and catfish 20 ppm
(no more than 50% of diet)**
Breeding ruminants, breeding poultry and breeding mink* 30 ppm
(no more than 50% of diet)**
Ruminants ≥ 3 months old being raised for slaughter and mink being raised for pelt production 60 ppm
(no more than 50% of diet)**
Poultry being raised for slaughter 100 ppm
(no more than 50% of diet)**
All other species or classes of livestock and pet animals 10 ppm
(no more than 50% of diet)**
*Includes lactating dairy cattle and hens laying eggs for human consumption
**Dry weight basis

Fumonisin Flex™ from EnviroLogix

When there is a risk that Fumonisin has contaminated your corn, test with Fumonisin Flex from EnviroLogix. Fumonisin Flex is a lateral flow strip that detects fumonisin in grains like corn in just minutes. Each kit contains materials suitable for conducting 50 tests.

Need EnviroLogix’ Fumonisin Flex Test Kit?

Fill out the form below to request a quote for Fumonisin Flex from EnviroLogix.

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