Matrix-associated mycotoxins in foods, cereals and feedstuffs: A review on occurrence, detection, transformation and future challenges

Abstract

Matrix-associated mycotoxins that bind with macromolecular components through covalent or non-covalent interactions easily occur in various cereals, cereal-based products, and cereal-based feedstuff. They are “masked” by macro-components, causing the underestimation of total exposure risk of mycotoxins. Most of the current reports focus on the free and modified mycotoxins, while the matrix-associated forms are ignored but still can exert toxic effects after ingestion. In this paper, current researches and future prospects of matrix-associated mycotoxins are reviewed. Especially, a focus is set on the transformation of matrix-associated mycotoxins with their free forms during metabolism and food processing. Enzymes, temperature and pH levels during food processing can induce the interconversion of matrix-associated mycotoxins with free mycotoxins. Furthermore, the analytical methods targeted on matrix-associated mycotoxins are discussed. Due to the lack of efficient methods releasing the mycotoxins from matrix, the standard analytical methods has not developed so far. Also, we further analyzed the challenges of matrix-associated mycotoxins about variety, occurrence, toxicity and transformation, exposure assessment, which contributes to establish preventive measures to control their hazards for consumers. Overall, this overview is significant for perfecting risk assessment, as well as developing effective prevention and control actions to matrix-associated mycotoxins.

Keywords:

• Matrix-associated mycotoxins
• hidden mycotoxins
• bound mycotoxins
• detection
• transformation
• food processing

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Professor Qi Zhang (Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430061, China) for his assistance about the conceptualization and writing of this review.

Author contributions

Hongxia Tan was involved in designing and drafting the initial draft version. Hongyuan Zhou, Ting Guo, Ying Zhou, Shuo Wang, Xiaozhu Liu, and Yuhao Zhang enriched the literature, proofread and edited the manuscript. Liang Ma laid the basis for the review article, contributed expert opinion, revised and edited the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project NO. 32072137), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Project NO. XDJK2020B044) and Venture & Innovation Support Program for Chongqing Overseas Returnees (Project NO. cx2018032).