EFSA Updates Its Assessment of Alternaria Toxins in Food

The European Food Safety Authority has updated its assessment of eight Alternaria toxins, substances produced by molds that can contaminate food and animal feed. Its November 11 announcement identifies five with genotoxic properties, meaning they can damage DNA.

The assessment does not give the same conclusion for every toxin. EFSA says available data are insufficient to determine whether tenuazonic acid is genotoxic. For two others, altenuene and tentoxin, estimated dietary exposure was below levels associated with adverse effects. The authority also calls for more research to close remaining knowledge gaps.

Foods contributing to exposure include cereal-based foods, fruit products, tomatoes, vegetables and certain oils. That list describes exposure categories; it does not identify a particular grocery product as contaminated.

For US readers, this is a European scientific risk assessment, not a US product-recall notice or a recommendation to remove whole food groups from the diet. Check the original EFSA explanation for the distinction between a toxin’s potential hazard and the amount people may encounter. This brief does not assess anyone’s individual health risk.