Risk assessment in compromised food safety due to underestimated hazard of masked mycotoxins or joint mycotoxin exposure and a safe approach to increase food security

Abstract This review paper elucidates the most prevalent mycotoxins or mycotoxin combinations in feeds or foods and the possible hazard of mycotoxins occurrence for appearance of certain foodborne ailments in animals or humans. Studies on the occurrence of different mycotoxin combinations in various food commodities in different countries are briefly evaluated. The underestimated hazard of masked/modified mycotoxins and multiple mycotoxin exposure of humans or animals is also evaluated in relation to the current mycotoxin regulations. The risk assessment and risk management of such contamination of food commodities is briefly elucidated. Some natural detoxification methods as a safe approach to prevent adverse effects of target mycotoxins or mycotoxins combination are briefly reviewed. Some tips are given for the safe utilization of mycotoxin-contaminated feed/food by using target biological or/and natural supplements and/or mycotoxin binders. Safety and quality control measures throughout the entire food supply chain are proposed to prevent some target foodborne ailments. The real toxic effects of some target combinations of mycotoxins, as occurred in the real practice, are also assessed and some lower limit values are proposed in such cases.