Mycotoxins

Like all other plants, when it is growing wheat can be attacked by insects and fungi.  While fungicides offer some protection against the main problems, complete elimination is not practical.  Fungi such as the fusarium species, which commonly attack grain crops, reduce yields and in some cases can form a toxin in the grain.  The whole cereals chain is therefore vigilant in checking for the presence of these mycotoxins, for which maximum levels are set, and ensuring that they do not enter the human food chain.   The most likely to occur in wheat are Deoxnivalenol (DON) Zearalenone (ZON) and Ochratoxin A (OTA), and these are all covered by industry wide monitoring programmes.