Mycotoxins in Swiss cereals and feeds – a literature review

The review is based on surveys published between 1980 and 2003 regarding Fusarium contamination in Swiss cereals as well as the occurrence of mycotoxins in Swiss cereals and compound feeds. Aflatoxin was detected in only a few of the 3500 analysed feed samples. Low levels of aflatoxin were detected in indigenous maize that had been insufficiently dried before storage. Thus aflatoxin may be formed in regions with a temperate climate. Ochratoxin A was detected in one of the 272 analysed samples only, which reflects the good feed storage conditions in Switzerland.The visual examination of 23’000 batches of wheat showed that in the rainy summer 1993 and the dry summer 1994 1.7% and 0.2% of the batches were contaminated with Fusarium spp., respectively. The percentage of contaminated samples did not differ between conventionally and extensively grown wheat. Fusarium toxin levels in cereal grains, mainly in wheat, are reported by several investigators. Deoxynivalenol was detected in 40% of 1200 samples, and zearalenone and T-2 toxin in 10% of 951 and 12% of 211 samples, respectively, whereas none of the 78 samples contained nivalenol. Fusarium toxin levels were quite low in most of the analysed samples.