Natural Feed Additives and Bioactive Supplements Versus Chemical Additives as a Safe and Practical Approach to Combat Foodborne Mycotoxicoses

Author: mycolabadmin
2024-02-19
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Summary

This research examines natural alternatives to chemical treatments for addressing toxic fungal compounds (mycotoxins) in food and animal feed. These natural approaches are safer and more practical than traditional chemical methods. Impacts on everyday life: – Safer food and animal products with fewer chemical residues – More environmentally friendly approaches to food safety – Better preservation of food nutritional quality and taste – Reduced exposure to harmful fungal toxins in daily diet – More cost-effective solutions for farmers and food producers

Background

Mycotoxins are secondary toxic fungal metabolites that contaminate feed and food commodities, posing serious health hazards for animals and humans. Over 400 types of natural mycotoxins exist, with 10-12 presenting serious health risks, including ochratoxin A (OTA), aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FUMs), deoxynivalenol (DON), and others. These mycotoxins frequently contaminate human food and animal feed at high levels, causing various health problems.

Objective

This review aims to highlight the possible hazards of mycotoxins in foods and feeds regarding foodborne diseases, and to investigate the management of contamination risk using natural feed additives that protect against mycotoxins’ deleterious effects or inhibit fungal growth and mycotoxin production. The study seeks to analyze biological methods of decontamination, degradation, or biotransformation of mycotoxins and compare them with conventional fungicides.

Results

Natural feed additives and bioactive supplements showed better safety profiles and practicality compared to chemical additives. Herbal/plant additives, enzymatic preparations, natural antioxidants, biological agents, and microorganisms demonstrated effective mycotoxin decontamination while preserving food quality. Herbs like Tinospora cordifolia, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Withania somnifera, and Silybum marianum showed protective effects against mycotoxin toxicity. Biological supplements containing antagonistic microorganisms, enzymes, and yeasts proved to be good alternatives to conventional fungicides.

Conclusion

Natural feed additives and bioactive supplements represent a more safe and practical approach to combat foodborne mycotoxicoses compared to chemical additives. Biological detoxification methods provide better food safety, preserved flavor, and nutritional quality while being cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Future research should focus on finding high-performance strains that can simultaneously absorb or biodegrade multiple mycotoxins.

Published in:Frontiers in Nutrition,
Study Type:Review,
Source: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1335779